
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the
Possession of the Field Museum of Natural History
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
ACTION: Notice
_________________________________________________________
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 Field
Museum of Natural History, Chicago, that meets the
definitions of "sacred objects" and "object of cultural
patrimony" under section 2 of the act.
The carved wheel with beads and eagle feathers,
approximately 21 inches in diameter with an overall
length of 30 inches, was collected in May 1900 at the
Wind River Reservation, Wyoming, by George A. Dorsey,
Chief Curator of Anthropology for the Field Museum. The
original museum catalogue records describe the object as
"catalogue number 61397; accession number 694; field
number 548; Wheel (hoti) -- from Sun dance pavilion --
cottonwood; Arapahoe".
The form of the object, its source and documentation lead
the museum to believe that it is a Sun Dance wheel.
Copies of the museum records and photographs of the
object have been provided to the Northern Arapaho
Business Council and members of the appropriate Sun Dance
religious body. Authorized representatives of the
Arapaho tribe have viewed the object in person and concur
with this identification of the object as a Sun Dance
wheel. The Northern Arapaho Business Council has
requested repatriation of the object from the Field
Museum of Natural History in a letter dated January 19,
1993. The Field Museum of Natural History has no
objections.
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. Jonathan Haas, Vice President for
Museum Affairs, Field Museum of Natural History,
Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605,
telephone (312) 922-9410, extension 442, before September
23, 1993. Repatriation of the object to the Arapaho
tribe may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Dated: August 11, 1993.
Dr. Francis P. McManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR/Vol. 58, No. 162/Tuesday, August 24, 1993/Page 44696]
Back to the top
Back to National-NAGPRA