2024-18960. Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038578; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribe in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after September 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the AMNH, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of 66 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 66 objects of cultural patrimony comprise a Thunder Medicine Pipe Bundle. The cultural items were accessioned by the Museum in 1904 and 1905 and were acquired from Dr. Clark Wissler through a Museum expedition to the Blackfeet community in Montana.

Determinations

The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:

• The 66 objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice are objects that have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to a Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 23, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the AMNH must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The AMNH is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

Dated: August 15, 2024.

Mariah Soriano,

Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.