[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17583]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 20, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession
of the Denver Art Museum
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to repatriate a cultural
item in the possession of the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, that meets
the definition of ``sacred object'' under section 2 of the act.
The Elk Tongue Beaver Bundle consists of animal bodies or skins, a
beaver tail, a buffalo tail, a feather fan, a pipe stem and catlinite
bowl, beaded bags, forked sticks, split sticks, and eight rawhide
rattles in a corn husk bag, all surrounded by a painted leather
wrapping and a red plaid shawl. The original owner was Elk Tongue, a
northern Piegan. The bundle was subsequently transferred through a
series of bundle keepers--Hairy Belly, Not Good, Scraping White, Wolf
Bull, and Little Dog--before being sold to Madge Hardin Walters of San
Diego, CA. The Denver Art Museum purchased the bundle from Ms. Walters
in 1940.
Evidence provided by the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, on the
behalf of Mr. George G. Kipp, III, and Mrs. Melinda Kipp, confirms that
the Elk Tongue Beaver Bundle is needed by traditional Blackfeet
religious leaders for the practice of traditional Blackfeet religion by
present day adherents. The Pikuni Traditionalist Association, Chief
Leonard Bastien of the Piegan Nation, Alberta, Canada, and the
Blackfeet Tribal Business Council unanimously support Mr. and Mrs. Kipp
as the appropriate bundle keepers. The Denver Art Museum's Collection
Committee and Board of Trustees has reviewed the request for
repatriation and has no objection. The Elk Tongue Beaver Bundle has
been loaned to the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, on the behalf of
Mr. and Mrs. Kipp, pending publication of this notice.
Authorities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have
been contacted regarding applicability of Federal endangered species
statutes to this transfer and have concurred in the conclusion that the
object is not covered due to its age.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with this object should contact Dr. Nancy J.
Blomberg, Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Avenue
Parkway, Denver, CO 80204, telephone: (303) 839-4806 before August 19,
1994. Repatriation of the object to the Blackfeet Nation, on behalf of
George and Melinda Kipp, may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Dated: July 14, 1994
Dr. Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 94-17583 Filed 7-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
