Federal Register / Vol. 60 No. 22 / Thursday, February 2, 1995 /
Notices Page 6552
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession
of the Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
ACTION: Notice
_________________________________________________________________
Notice is hereby given under provisions of the Native American
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of the intent to
repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Museum of
Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, a unit of the
Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico, that meets the
definition of "sacred object" under Section 2 of the Act.
The item is a prayer stick used as a part of the Navajo Enemyway
ceremony. The object consists of nine parts: two eagle feathers,
a cedar branch, a piece of red cloth, a can of animal fat, deer
hooves, and three leather pouches. The object was a gift to the
Museum of new Mexico by its first director, Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett.
These objects were part of a medicine bag containing
approximately sixty-nine pieces, purchased by Hewett at a trading
post east of the Chuska Mountains on the Navajo Reservation prior
to 1935.
The Navajo Nation after consultation with traditional religious
leaders, requested that the prayer stick and the associated items
be repatriated. The Museum's records indicate the objects under
consideration for repatriation are Navajo in origin and were,
most likely used by Navajo Medicine Men during the first two
decades of the 20th century.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Museum
of Indian Arts and Culture, a unit of the Museum of New Mexico
have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), that these
items are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional
Navajo religious leaders for the practice of their religion by
its present day adherents. Officials of the Museum of Indian
Arts and Culture, a unit of the Museum of New Mexico have further
determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), that there is a
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably
traced between these items and the Navajo Nation.
The catalog numbered objects, 23075/12a-g and 23072/12a-b, are
officially part of the collection now identified as the School of
American Research Collection in the Museum of New Mexico, a loan
agreement resulting from fifty years of the two institutions
operating as one entity under a single Director. The School, now
separate from the Museum of New Mexico, through written
correspondence dated January 6, 1995 has agreed to repatriate the
prayer stick and associated items.
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. This notice has been sent to officials of the Navajo Nation.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself
to be culturally affiliated with these cultural items should
contact Dr. Bruce Bernstein, Chief Curator, Museum of Indian Arts
and Culture, Museum of New Mexico, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM
87504, telephone: (505) 827-6344, before March 6, 1995.
Repatriation of these sacred objects to the Navajo Nation may
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: January 26, 1995
Francis P. McManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-2539 Filed 2/1/95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
Back to the top
Back to National-NAGPRA