Federal Register / Vol. 60 No. 55 / Wednesday, March 22, 1995 /
Notices PAGE 15156
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of the USDA Forest Service.
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 Cibola
National Forest, USDA Forest Service, that meet the definition of
"sacred object" under Section 2 of the Act.
The items consist of 138 bundles of feathers, several loose
fragments of feathers and two corn husk bundle ties. Each
feather bundle contains either two or three feathers tied with
cotton twine on the lower shaft. With approximately one half of
the bundles, the twine and some feathers are stained with red
ochre. A few of the bundles are made up entirely of small
feathers but most consist of one large feather and either one or
two small feathers. The large feathers are turkey or hawk. With
few exceptions, each bundle contains one small blue feather from
a Stellar's or other jay.
The feather bundles were collected by a hiker from a shrine on
the Sandia Mountains (New Mexico) in the late summer/early fall
of 1984 and were brought to the Sandia Ranger District, Cibola
National Forest several weeks later. A review of published and
unpublished ethnographic information identified 27 Indian tribes
and pueblos that traditionally used the Sandia Mountains. All 27
Indian tribes and pueblos were notified of the feather bundles.
Representatives of the Pueblo of Jemez have inspected the items
and have identified them as prayer feather bundles. The
representatives of the Pueblo of Jemez indicated that the prayer
feather bundles are left as offerings at a shrine on the Sandia
Mountains as part of their traditional religious practice. Once
left as a offering, Jemez Pueblo religion requires that such
prayer feather bundles not be disturbed.
The Pueblo of Jemez has identified the prayer feather bundles and
associated materials as sacred objects of the Pueblo of Jemez and
requested their repatriation. The Pueblo of Sandia, the Pueblo
of Acoma, the Pueblo of Isleta and the Pueblo of Zuni have been
consulted following their expressions of interest in the feather
bundles. The Pueblos of Sandia, Acoma, Isleta and Zuni support
the claim of the Pueblo of Jemez to this particular collection of
feather bundles from the Sandia Mountains.
Based on the above mentioned information officials of the USDA
Forest Service have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)
(C), that these feather bundles are specific ceremonial objects
needed by the traditional religious leaders of the Pueblo of
Jemez for the practice of their traditional religion by its
present day adherents. Officials of the USDA Forest Service 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 prayer feather bundles and the Pueblo of
Jemez.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Pueblos of Jemez,
Acoma, Isleta, Sandia, and Zuni. Representatives of any other
Indian tribe which believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these cultural items should contact Dr. Frank E. Wozniak,
NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest Service, 517
Gold Avenue, S.W., Albuquerque, NM 87102, telephone: (505) 842-
3238, before April 21, 1995. Repatriation of these sacred
objects to the Pueblo of Jemez may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: March 15, 1995
Ruthann Knudson
Acting, Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Acting, Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-6976 Filed 3-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
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