[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34986-34987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office 
[www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14311]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10376; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service, Little Bighorn Battlefield National 
Monument, Crow Agency, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (LIBI), in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that the 
cultural items meet the definition of sacred objects and repatriation to 
the lineal descendant stated below may occur if no additional claimants 
come forward. Any other individuals who believe they are lineal 
descendants of the individual who owned these sacred objects and who wish 
to claim the items should contact LIBI.

DATES: Any other individuals who believe they are lineal descendants of 
the individual who owned these sacred objects and who wish to claim the 
items should contact LIBI at the address below by July 12, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Gus Sanchez, Acting Superintendent, Little Bighorn Battlefield 
National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, telephone 
(406) 638-3201.

[[Page 34987]]


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 in the possession 
of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, LIBI, Crow 
Agency, MT that meet the definition of sacred objects 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 
Superintendent, LIBI.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    The 18 cultural items are part of a medicine bundle and are one 
satchel made out of animal hide, 13 small medicine bags, and four stones. 
The items belonged to Spotted Hawk who resided on the Northern Cheyenne 
Reservation. On August 4, 1930, Cecilia Spotted Wolf, Spotted Hawk's 
sister, traded or gifted the items to Dr. Thomas B. Marquis, a physician 
on the Tongue River Reservation (Northern Cheyenne). In 1942, the 18 
objects were donated to Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, now known 
as LIBI, by Dr. Marquis' daughters, Mrs. Millie Ellen Marquis Hastings 
and Mrs. Anna Rose Octavia Marquis Heil.
    Jean Spotted Wolf Emmons, great-grand niece of Spotted Hawk, is 
requesting repatriation of the 18 cultural items. The medicine bundle is 
needed by Mrs. Emmons to continue traditional ceremonies. LIBI consulted 
with the Northern Cheyenne Cultural Commission and Tribal Historic 
Preservation Office to determine that Jean Emmons is an appropriate 
recipient under the Northern Cheyenne traditional kinship system and 
common law system of descendance.

Determinations Made by Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

    Officials of LIBI have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 18 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. 3005(a)(5)(A), Mrs. Emmons is the direct 
lineal descendant of the individual who owned these sacred objects.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Any other individuals who believe they are lineal descendants of the 
individual who owned these sacred objects and who wish to claim the items 
should contact Gus Sanchez, Acting Superintendent, Little Bighorn 
Battlefield National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, 
telephone (406) 638-3201, before July 12, 2012. Repatriation of the 
sacred objects to Mrs. Jean Spotted Wolf Emmons may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    LIBI is responsible for notifying Mrs. Jean Spotted Wolf Emmons; the 
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming; Assiniboine and 
Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana; Cheyenne and 
Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (formerly the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of 
Oklahoma); Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, 
South Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, South 
Dakota; Crow Tribe of Montana; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South 
Dakota; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation, South 
Dakota; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian 
Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, 
South Dakota; Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, 
South Dakota; Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of 
the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; Spirit Lake Tribe, North 
Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota; and the 
Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 7, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-14311 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P