Federal Register / Vol 59 244 / Wednesday, December 21, 1994 /
Notices Page 65786 & 65787
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession
of the Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
ACTION: Notice
_________________________________________________________________
Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to
repatriate a cultural item presently in the possession of the
Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ, that meets the definition of "sacred
object" under section 2 of the act.
The item consists of a rawhide bandolier, 13 inches in diameter,
decorated with small shells, a cobalt-blue glass bead, two
natural crystals and an obsidian arrow point. The bandolier is
wrapped with wide rawhide strips and fringed.
The bandolier was acquired by the Heard Museum in 1974 as part of
a larger group of items donated by Woodard's Indian Arts. No
information has been obtained relative to the acquisition of the
items by Woodard's Indian Arts. The original museum records
identify the object as NA-SW-NA-J-183, a Navajo rawhide necklace.
In November, 1993, the Museum supplied a summary of its holdings
identified as "Navajo" to authorized representatives of the
Navajo Nation. In May, 1994, a representative of the Navajo
Nation Cultural Preservation Office examined the collection and
the bandolier was identified as a sacred object. The item was
further identified in an October, 1994 letter from the Navajo
Nation as used in the Enemy Way ceremony. In the letter dated
November 7, 1994 representatives of the Navajo Nation identified
the bandolier as one needed, "...so that the rawhide necklace can
be re-initiated for the comming seasons. This particular item is
not meant to be in the hands of non-Navajos because it is used in
ceremonies that involve cleansing from foreigners."
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Heard
Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2),
there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be
reasonably traced between the bandolier and the Navajo Nation.
Officials of the Heard Museum have also determined that the
bandolier meets the definition of sacred object pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C). The Museum's Board of Trustees agreed to
deaccession the item on November 23, 1994, in preparation for
repatriation.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Navajo Nation,
Ramah Navajo Chapter, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with this cultural item should contact
Martin Sullivan, Director, The Heard Museum, 22 E. Monte Vista
Road, Phoenix Arizona 85004-1480, telephone (602) 252-8840 before
January 20, 1995. Repatriation of the cultural item to the
Navajo Nation may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward. Dated: December 15, 1994
Francis P. McManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 94-31259 Filed 12-20-94, 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
Back to the top
Back to National-NAGPRA