[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)] [Notices] [Pages 63153-63154] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 02-25870] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate a cultural item in the possession of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK, that meets the definition of ``sacred object'' 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. The cultural item is a cedar pole 12 feet long, from which all bark has been removed. The pole is painted lengthwise, black on one side and green on the other side. Accession and catalog records of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (formerly known as the Stovall Museum of Science and History) indicate that the pole was donated to the museum in 1946 by Mrs. Joe Weller of Gracemont, OK. According to museum records and consultation with representatives of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma, the pole was originally made about 1895 by Caddo Chief White Bread. The pole was used regularly in Caddo Ghost Dances from 1895 until 1946. About 1922, Chief White Bread died and the pole passed to Mr. Squirrel, another community Ghost Dance leader. Mr. Joe Weller was the third custodian of the pole and held Ghost Dances annually until his death in 1945. On July 14, 1946, Mrs. Weller sponsored a final Ghost Dance, after which she intended to ``retire'' the pole. University of Oklahoma anthropologist K.G. Orr was among those attending the July 14, 1946, Ghost Dance and, according to museum accession records, he ``persuaded Mrs. Weller and the Caddo tribe to donate the pole to the museum rather than destroy it at the completion of the dance.'' The pole was accessioned into the collections of the museum's Division of Ethnology in 1946. Since that time, representatives of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma and Caddo traditional religious leaders have regularly visited the museum and consulted with the museum staff concerning the pole. Consultations with representatives of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma confirm that this pole was made to be used in the Caddo Ghost Dance. Representatives of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma have provided evidence that the pole is needed by traditional religious leaders for the practice of the Ghost Dance by present-day adherents. Representatives of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma have provided evidence that the pole is of ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural importance to the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma as a whole. Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(3), this item 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be traced between this sacred object and the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma. This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with this object should contact Julie Droke, Registrar/Repatriation [[Page 63154]] Specialist, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, OK 73072, telephone (405) 325- 1035, before November 12, 2002. Repatriation of this sacred object to the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: August 28, 2002. Robert Stearns, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 02-25870 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-S