[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22282-22283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08769]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-12674; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate a Cultural Item: 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: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets

[[Page 22283]]

the definition of sacred objects. Lineal descendants or representatives 
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in 
this notice that wish to claim the cultural item should submit a 
written request to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. If no 
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural 
item 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 Little Bighorn Battlefield 
National Monument at the address in this notice by May 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Denice Swanke, Superintendent, Little Bighorn Battlefield 
National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, telephone 
(406) 638-3201, email denice_swanke@nps.gov.

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 a cultural item under the 
control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, MT, that 
meets 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, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    In 1960, one cultural item was purchased by Thomas K. Garry, 
Superintendent of Custer Battlefield National Monument, now known as 
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. The cultural item 
originally belonged to Charles Whistling Elk, a member of the Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe. On April 27, 1960 it was purchased from Charles 
Whistling Elk's son-in-law, Albert Tallbull, also of the Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe. The sacred object is a medicine bundle containing 
multiple objects including rattles, a buffalo tail, a beaded leather 
bag, and several small bags containing herbs, roots, and amulets.
    Gilbert Whitedirt, grandson of Charles Whistling Elk, is requesting 
repatriation of the cultural item described above. The medicine bundle 
is needed by Mr. Whitedirt to continue traditional ceremonies. Little 
Bighorn Battlefield National Monument consulted with the Northern 
Cheyenne Cultural Commission and Tribal Historic Preservation Office to 
determine that Gilbert Whitedirt 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 Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is a specific ceremonial object 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), Mr. Gilbert Whitedirt 
is the direct lineal descendant of the individual who owned this sacred 
object.

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 
this cultural item should submit a written request with information in 
support of the claim to Denice Swanke, Superintendent, Little Bighorn 
Battlefield National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, 
telephone (406) 638-3201, email denice_swanke@nps.gov, by May 15, 
2013. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the sacred object to Mr. Gilbert Whitedirt may 
proceed.
    Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is responsible for 
notifying Mr. Gilbert Whitedirt; 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 
(previously listed as 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 (previously listed as the 
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 Yankton 
Sioux Tribe of South Dakota that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 26, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-08769 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P