[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 78 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 17720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9758]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Control of Grand Portage 
National Monument, National Park Service, Grand Marais, MN

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 
3003 (d), of the completion of the inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the control of the National Park Service 
at Grand Portage National Monument, Grand Marais, MN.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by National Park Service professional staff and 
presented in writing to the Chairman of the Grand Portage Reservation 
Business Committee. The National Park Service has received no official 
reply.
    In 1962, four historical burials were excavated on a low hill on 
Grand Portage Creek within the monument boundaries by representatives 
of the Minnesota Historical Society. Human remains and associated 
funerary objects were recovered and taken by the Minnesota Historical 
Society to St. Paul for analysis. Most of the human remains were 
returned to Grand Portage National Monument in 1968. These human 
remains were subsequently destroyed in the Great Hall fire of 1969.
    The human remains retained by the Minnesota Historical Society 
represent a minimum of two individuals. No known individuals were 
identified. The 11,000 objects found with the four original burials 
include glass trade beads, trade silver and brass jewelry, iron knives, 
textile fragments, birch bark, clay pipe fragments, and non-human bone 
fragments. These objects indicate the burials date between 1800-1825. 
Ethnographic information gathered at the time of the original 
excavation identified the hillside burial location as being consistent 
with traditional Chippewa practice. The burial site is also within the 
traditional-use lands of Grand Portage village, a permanent occupation 
of the Grand Portage Band during the time of these burials.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Grand 
Portage National Monument have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of at least two individuals of Native American ancestry. Monument 
officials have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A) 
and (B) the 11,000 items listed above 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. Lastly, monument 
officials 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 human remains and funerary objects and the Grand 
Portage Reservation Business Committee.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Grand Portage 
Reservation Business Committee. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Dean C. 
Einwalter, Superintendent, Grand Portage National Monument, P.O. Box 
668, Grand Marais, MN 55604; telephone (218) 387-2788 before May 22, 
1996. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Grand Portage Reservation Business Committee may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: April 16, 1996
Francis P. McManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program
[FR Doc. 96-9786 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
[FR Doc. 96-9758 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P