[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34932-34933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15436]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028302; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Buffalo Bill 
Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum, Cody, WY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this 
notice meets the definition of an object of cultural patrimony. Lineal 
descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or

[[Page 34933]]

Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the Buffalo 
Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum. If no additional 
claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the 
lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations 
stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim this cultural item should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Buffalo Bill Center of the 
West, Plains Indian Museum at the address in this notice by August 19, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Rebecca West, Curator, Plains Indian Museum, Buffalo Bill 
Center of the West, 720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414, telephone 
(307) 578-4049, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the 
control of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum, 
Cody, WY, that meets the definition of an object 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 Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    In 1965, Paul Dyck purchased a Beaver Medicine Bundle from Dan Bull 
Plume, Sr., in Browning, MT. The date of this object is 1860. In 2006, 
Dyck loaned the Beaver Medicine Bundle to the Buffalo Bill Center of 
the West. In 2007, following Dyck's death, the Paul Dyck Foundation 
converted the loan to a gift (accession number NA.800.360). The Beaver 
Medicine Bundle was identified as Blackfeet (Pikuni) based on a tag 
written by Dyck describing the object as a ``Beaver bundle [verbar] 
pipe--Yellow Wolf [verbar] Iron Breast Pikuni 1860--Lone Wolf Coll #86 
#87.'' The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum 
contacted the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council offices by letter to 
inform the Tribal Historic Preservation Officers about Blackfeet and 
Blackfoot materials at the Plains Indian Museum. In September 2008, 
members of the Blood Tribe (Canada) Spiritual Advisors, consisting of 
Horn Society advisors and members, viewed the Beaver Medicine Bundle 
(NA.800.360) in the Plains Indian Museum of the Buffalo Bill Center of 
the West, confirmed its identity, and affirmed that Beaver Bundle 
Ceremonies associated with this bundle are still practiced by both the 
Blackfoot Nation of Canada and the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet 
Indian Reservation of Montana.
    In 2017, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum 
received a request from the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the 
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana to 
review Blackfeet and Blackfoot sacred materials. As a result, tribal 
members in their capacity as Elders for the Beaver Medicine Bundle and 
Sweat Lodge identified NA.800.360 as a Beaver Medicine Bundle. John 
Murray sent two letters on behalf of the Blackfeet detailing knowledge 
of the Beaver Bundle based on past and current ceremonial practices, 
oral traditions, tribal and personal histories, and documentation of 
Dan Bull Plume's ownership of the bundle.

Determinations Made by the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains 
Indian Museum

    Officials of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian 
Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the one cultural item 
described above has ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural 
importance central to the Native American group or culture itself, 
rather than property owned by an individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between object of 
cultural patrimony and the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian 
Reservation of Montana.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Rebecca West, Curator, Plains Indian Museum, 
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, 720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414, 
telephone (307) 578-4049, email [email protected], by August 
19, 2019. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the object of cultural patrimony to the 
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana may 
proceed.
    The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum is 
responsible for notifying the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian 
Reservation of Montana that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 25, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-15436 Filed 7-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P