[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 144 (Monday, July 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43778-43779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17735]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16152; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, Santa
Fe, NM
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, in
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this
notice meet the definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural
patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the
Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office. If no additional
claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to
the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations
stated in this notice may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to
[[Page 43779]]
the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office at the address
in this notice by August 27, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Mr. Jesse Juen, State Director, Bureau of Land Management,
New Mexico State Office, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, NM 87502-0115,
telephone (505) 954-2222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the
control of the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office,
Santa Fe, NM, that meet the definition of sacred objects and objects of
cultural patrimony under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural Items
In 2013, four cultural items were relinquished to the BLM by an
individual investigated as part of a law enforcement action. The
cultural items include a Tsa'kwayna Katsina Friend (mask), Raven Bride
Katsina Friend (mask), Nataska Ogre Katsina Friend (mask), and a One-
Horn ritual headdress. The Katsina Friends (masks) consist of painted
wood, cloth, leather, and feathers. The headdress consists of a painted
gourd. They were acquired pursuant to a search warrant and through
undercover purchase operations in 2008 and 2009 by BLM law enforcement
agents as part of a multi-state investigation into the trafficking of
artifacts and cultural materials code-named ``Cerberus Action.'' During
the course of the ensuing criminal investigation, the Hopi Tribe of
Arizona was contacted by law enforcement agents, and in subsequent
meetings, members of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona identified the
confiscated materials as sacred objects and objects of cultural
patrimony. This information was needed to pursue prosecution under the
criminal penalties for violating NAGPRA. Ultimately, the Department of
Justice declined to prosecute and pursued several non-prosecution
agreements that included relinquishment of some of the confiscated
materials, including these four sacred objects/objects of cultural
patrimony.
Tribal cultural authorities of the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; the
Hopi Tribe of Arizona; the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; and the Zuni
Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, were contacted by BLM
cultural resources staff, and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona identified the
objects as sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony eligible
for repatriation under NAGPRA. The tribal cultural authorities
recognized the materials used in the construction of the objects, as
well as the objects' style and type. Consequently, these tribal
consultants were able to determine that the items are culturally
affiliated specifically with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
Determinations Made by the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State
Office
Officials of the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office
have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the four cultural items
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the four cultural items
described above have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural
importance central to the Native American group or culture itself,
rather than property owned by an individual.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the four
sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony and the Hopi Tribe of
Arizona.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim
these cultural items should submit a written request with information
in support of the claim to Mr. Jesse Juen, State Director, Bureau of
Land Management, New Mexico State Office, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, NM
87502-0115, telephone (505) 954-2222, by August 27, 2014. After that
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control
of the sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony to the Hopi Tribe
of Arizona may proceed.
The Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office is
responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, the Pueblo of
Acoma, New Mexico; the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, and the Zuni Tribe
of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico that this notice has been
published.
Dated: July 2, 2014.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-17735 Filed 7-25-14; 8:45 am]
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