[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77897-77898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31285]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[2253-665]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 University of
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA,
that meet the definitions of sacred objects and/or objects of cultural
patrimony 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
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
The eight Tlingit objects are one wooden box drum (catalogue number
NA6828); one hide robe (catalogue number NA6829); two carved wooden
masks (catalogue numbers NA6831 and NA6832); one carved wooden
headdress (catalogue number NA6835); one head cover (catalogue number
NA6836); one carved wooden rattle (catalogue number NA6845); and one
carved wooden pipe (catalogue number NA6862).
The first cultural item is a drum (NA6828) made of two pieces of
cedar wood, called Old-Man-of-War Box Drum. One narrow side is carved
to represent the ``old-man-of-war'' and the opposing side is open; the
broad sides are painted in geometric figures in red and black. The drum
measures approximately 65.0 cm long, 32.0 cm wide and 85.0 cm high.
[[Page 77898]]
The second cultural item is a robe (NA6829) made from three panels
of caribou hide sewn together, called the Lituya Bay Robe. The seams
are fringed and the top and sides are trimmed with marten fur. The
imagery on the robe is painted with black and red, and either yellow or
white pigment. The central figure of the image represents a rock in
Lituya Bay and two side images represent rapids. The robe measures
approximately 157.0 cm wide and 127.0 cm long.
The third cultural item is a mask (NA6831) that consists of carved
wood painted with red, black and white pigment, representing a tree
stump, and called the Owl-of-the Heavens. On the top of the stump sits
a taxidermic owl that can be moved by the performer wearing the mask.
The mask measures approximately 24.5 cm high and 20.5 cm wide.
The fourth cultural item is a mask (NA6832), called Commander-of-
the-Tides. The face is painted with red and black pigmented designs
representing feathers, and includes actual bird feathers crowning the
mask and a wide leather band at the back. The eyes are movable and made
to represent the movements of the changing ocean tides. The mask
measures approximately 35.0 cm high and 24.0 cm wide.
The fifth cultural item is a headdress or shakee.at (NA6835),
called Little Ravine, after a passageway over a sand mount at Dry Bay,
near Yakutat. It is elaborately carved with multiple figures painted
with red, black and blue-green pigment, and ornamented with abalone,
ermine fur, eagle down and feathers. The carving represents an episode
of the Raven's Journey that took place near the sand mount. The
headdress measures approximately 53.0 cm high and 22.0 cm wide.
The sixth cultural item is a head cover (NA6836) formed from a
corner piece of a Chilkat blanket made of twisted wild mountain goat
wool. A piece of red felt was added as a border and a second small
piece of red felt covers the lower front of the head cover. The head
cover is ornamented with mountain goat hair and a fox tail. A carved
wooden figure, painted with black, red and blue-green pigment, and
representing the Raven, is positioned at the top front of the head
cover. The head cover measures approximately 31.8 cm high and 21.6 cm
long.
The seventh cultural item is a rattle (NA6845) carved to represent
a loon, with a recumbent human figure and a raven's head on top. It is
painted with black, red and blue-green pigment. The rattle measures
approximately 32.5 cm long, 7.7 cm wide and 9.5 cm high.
The eighth cultural item is a tobacco pipe (NA6862) carved with a
representation of a spirit or animal, which remains unidentified. It is
painted with blue pigment at the base only and a metal strip, probably
copper, is attached around the opening of the bowl. The pipe is large,
measuring approximately 20.0 cm high and 14.5 cm wide.
In 1924, Louis Shotridge, a Tlingit Curator employed by the
University of Pennsylvania Museum, purchased the eight objects as part
of a collection of 49 objects, which are represented by 38 catalogue
numbers, referred to as the ``Snail House Collection,'' for $500.00
from a Tlingit individual, Archie White (Dimitri Tukk'axaaw), the Mt.
Fairweather/Snail House headmaster of the T'akdeintaan Clan of Hoonah,
AK, for the collections of the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
The cultural affiliation of the eight cultural items is with the
Tlingit T'akdeintaan Clan of Hoonah, AK, as indicated through museum
records, and by consultation evidence presented by the Hoonah Indian
Association, a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, and the Huna Heritage
Foundation, a non-Federally recognized Indian group, acting on behalf
of the Huna Totem Corporation and the Tlingit T'akdeintaan Clan of
Hoonah, AK.
Based on consultation, museum documentation, anthropological
literature, and expert opinion, six of the cultural items are
considered to be sacred objects, one is considered to be an object of
cultural patrimony, and one is considered to be both an object of
cultural patrimony and sacred object. The six cultural items that are
sacred objects are the two carved wooden masks (NA6831 and NA6832); the
headdress (NA6835); the head cover (NA6836); the carved wooden rattle
(NA6845); and the carved wooden pipe (NA6862). The cultural item that
is considered an object of cultural patrimony is the wooden box drum
(NA6828). Lastly, the cultural item that is considered to be both a
sacred object and an object of cultural patrimony is the hide robe
(NA6829).
Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology
and Anthropology have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C),
seven 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. Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of
Archaeology and Anthropology also have determined, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), two cultural items described above have ongoing
historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native
American group or culture itself, rather than property owned by an
individual. Lastly, officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum
of Archaeology and Anthropology have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C.
3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be
reasonably traced between the sacred objects and the objects of
cultural patrimony and the Hoonah Indian Association, a Federally-
recognized Indian Tribe, and the Tlingit T'akdeintaan Clan of Hoonah,
AK.
Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects and/or objects of
cultural patrimony should contact Dr. Richard Hodges, Director,
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260
South St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, telephone (215) 898-4050,
before January 13, 2011. Repatriation of the sacred objects and objects
of cultural patrimony to the Hoonah Indian Association, a Federally-
recognized Indian Tribe, and the Tling[iacute]t T'akdeintaan Clan of
Hoonah, AK, may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Hoonah Indian
Association, a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, and the Huna Heritage
Foundation, a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice
has been published.
Dated: December 7, 2010.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-31285 Filed 12-13-10; 8:45 am]
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