[Federal Register: October 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 50679-50680]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc01-118]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of the Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana,
Natchitoches, LA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate
cultural items in the possession of the Williamson Museum, Northwestern
State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches, LA, that meet the
definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under Section 2 of the
Act.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations within this notice.

[[Page 50680]]

    The ten objects from the U.S. Fish Hatchery site, Natchitoches
Parish, LA, are glass beads.
    These objects were removed in the 1930s, by George Williamson, a
professor at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, during
construction of the fish hatchery.
    Museum records indicate that these beads were removed from a grave;
no remains from the grave are held in the museum. Glass beads date to
the postcontact period (post-A.D. 1540) when this area was occupied by
the Caddo Tribe.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the
Williamson Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2
(d)(2)(ii), these 10 cultural items are reasonably believed to have
been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a
preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific
burial site of a Native American individual.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Indian Tribe of
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary
objects should contact Dr. Pete Gregory, Director, Williamson Museum,
Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches, LA 71497,
telephone (318) 357-8170, before November 5, 2001. Repatriation of
these unassociated funerary objects to the Caddo Indian Tribe of
Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.

    Dated: June 28, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24935 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
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