[Federal Register: May 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 95)]
[Notices]               
[Page 27843-27844]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17my07-96]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service
 
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cibola National Forest, Albuquerque, NM

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 a cultural item in the possession of the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cibola National Forest, Albuquerque, NM 
that meets the definition of ``sacred object'' 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.
    In 1973, one pair of leggings was illegally removed from a site 
located on lands administered by the Cibola National Forest in west 
central New Mexico. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service Law Enforcement Officers recovered the leggings as a part of an 
Archeological Resources Protection Act investigation.

[[Page 27844]]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Law Enforcement 
Officers held the leggings until they were released by the court to the 
Cibola National Forest following the successful prosecution of the case 
in 2006.
    The leggings are made from human hair and were made in the late 
prehistoric to early historic period (approximately A.D. 1100-1700). 
The site from which the leggings were removed contained pottery sherds 
of Puebloan manufacture from the late prehistoric and/or early historic 
periods. Expert witnesses for the court case determined that the 
leggings were of Puebloan construction from the late prehistoric to 
early historic period. During consultation, representatives of the 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico demonstrated that the leggings were of 
Acoma manufacture and that they were a sacred object associated with 
the Acoma religion and needed by traditional Acoma religious leaders 
for the present-day practice of their religion.
    Officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
Cibola National Forest 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. Officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 
Service, Cibola National Forest also have determined that, pursuant to 
25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity 
that can be reasonably traced between the sacred object and the Pueblo 
of Acoma, New Mexico.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Dr. 
Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest 
Service, 333 Broadway Blvd., SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, telephone (505) 
842-3238, before June 18, 2007. Repatriation of the sacred object to 
the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cibola National 
Forest is responsible for notifying the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico and 
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 20, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-9450 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]

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