Federal Register / Vol. 60 No. 155 / Friday, August 11, 1995 /
Notices Page 41111 & 41112
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, National
Park Service, Stanton, ND
AGENCY: National Park Service
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to
repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Knife River
Indian Villages National Historic Site which meet the definition
of "sacred object" and "unassociated funerary object" under
section 2 of the Act.
Four pipe fragments were recovered from surface collection or
excavation within the Knife River Indian Villages National
Historic Site. One wide-mouthed, grey/brown clay pipe bowl
fragment (Accession #KNRI-00040, Catalog #KNRI-72) was collected
from the ground surface by a ranger in the park during the 1980s.
One half of an orange clay pipe (Accession #KNRI-00072, Catalog
#KNRI-120) was collected from the ground surface by a ranger from
the Big Hidatsa Site (32ME12) during the 1980s. One small
yellowish-white, undecorated kaolin pipe stem fragment (Accession
#KNRI-00085, Catalog #KNRI-575) excavated at the Sakakawea Site
(32ME11) by the University of North Dakota in 1976/1977. One
clay pipe bowl (Accession #KNRI-00085, Catalog #KNRI-802)
excavated at the Sakakawea Site (32ME11) by the University of
North Dakota in 1976/1977. Representatives of the Three
Affiliated Tribes identified Knife River Indian Villages National
Historic Site--including Big Hidatsa Site, and Sakakawea Site--as
part of the Hidatsa's traditional occupation area.
Representatives of the Three Affiliated Tribes identified these
four pipe fragments as objects that, as a part of the death rite
or ceremony of a culture, are reasonably believed to have been
placed with individual human remains either at the time of death
or later.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the
National Park Service 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 four pipe fragments and the
Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. Officials of the
National Park Service have also determined that the four pipe
fragments are objects that, as a part of the death rite or
ceremony of a culture, are reasonably believed to have been
placed with individual human remains either at the time of death
or later, where the remains are not in the possession or control
of the Federal agency or museum pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001
(3)(B).
Eleven objects were donated to the Knife River Indian Villages
National Historic Site by the Robinson family in 1991. George
Robinson ran a mercantile store in Cole Harbor, ND (near the Fort
Berthold reservation) from the 1880's through the early 1900's.
Much of Mr. Robinson's business was conducted with members of the
Three Affiliated Tribes, especially Arikara people. The cultural
items were received in trade for food and supplies by Mr.
Robinson during this time. These eleven objects include: one
small wooden pipe (Accession # KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-2133);
one catlinite pipe with a "T" bowl squared at one end to
cylindrical then tapered at the other end and one wooden taylor
stem (Accession # KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-2150 a and b); one
catlinite pipe with a "T" style bowl squared at one end to
cylindrical then tapered at the other end and one wooden stem
with beading, ribbons, and painted surfaces (Accession # KNRI-
00164, Catalog # KNRI-2151 a and b); one red catlinite pipe with
an "elbow" style bowl (Accession # KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-
2156); one red catlinite toy pipe with a "T" style bowl and one
wooden stem with plaited quillwork and feathers (Accession #
KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-2161 a and b); one red catlinite pipe
with a "T" style bowl cylindrical at one end to tapered then
hexagonal at the other end and one wooden taylor stem (Accession
# KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-2163 a and b); one hide bag with
beadwork, quillwork, and fringe (Accession # KNRI-00164, Catalog
# KNRI-2168); one hide bag with beadwork, quillwork, and fringe
(Accession # KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-2180); one rectangular
hide bag with drawstring top and fringe (Accession # KNRI-00164,
Catalog # KNRI-2133); one brown wooden dance stick with light
horsehair and yellow and purple ribbons (Accession # KNRI-00164,
Catalog # KNRI-2117); and one brown wooden dance stick with 2
horn tips and black, white, and green horsehair (Accession #
KNRI-00164, Catalog # KNRI-2118).
Representatives of the Three Affiliated Tribes identified these
eleven objects as coming from the traditional occupation area of
the Hidatsa, Mandan, and Arikara. Representatives of the Three
Affiliated Tribes identified these eleven objects as ceremonial
objects which are needed by traditional Native American religious
leaders for the practice of traditional Native American religions
by their present day adherents.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the
National Park Service 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 cultural items and the Three
Affiliated Tribes. Officials of the National Park Service have
also determined that the eleven objects are ceremonial objects
which are 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. 3001 (3)(C).
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural items should
contact Chas Cartwright, Superintendent, Knife River Indian
Villages National Historic Site, P.O Box 9, Stanton, ND 58571,
telephone: (701) 745-3309, before September 11, 1995.
Repatriation of the cultural objects to the Three Affiliated
Tribes of North Dakota will begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: August 7, 1995
Francis P. McManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-19928 Filed 8-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
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