[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52058-52059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25472]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of Fort Union Trading 
Post National Historic Site, Williston, ND

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior

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 an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the National Park 
Service, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Williston, ND.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by National Park Service professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes 
of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky 
Boy Reservation, Crow Tribe, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of 
Montana, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort 
Berthold Reservation, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
    Between 1969 and 1986, human remains representing seven individuals 
were recovered from locations within the Fort Union Trading Post 
National Historic Site. One of the seven individuals was removed by a 
vandal in 1969. All bones except the skull were subsequently recovered 
by the FBI and returned to the National Park Service. No known 
individuals were identified. The associated funerary objects include 
2,098 ceramic, glass, metal, shell, and stone beads; 58 leather 
clothing fragments; 27 lead balls; 21 fragments of textile; 18 buttons; 
12 iron projectile points, 11 animal and fish bones; six copper 
bracelets; four earrings; four iron knives; four iron nails, hand 
wrought and machine cut; four pebbles; two belts, in pieces; two 
bottles, one whole and one fragment; two iron awls; two fragments of an 
iron gun worm; two window glass fragments; one iron auger; one English-
style gunflint; one iron axe blade; one wood fragment; one worked 
antler and iron hide scraper; one iron rod; one pigment stone; one 
pigment sample in a dirt matrix; one piece of sheet copper; one leather 
moccasin fragment; one tin cup, in fragments; one key; one shell 
pendant; one rectangular tin box, in fragments; one glass tack; and one 
brass thimble. Associated funerary objects date the time of death of 
these individuals between 1867 and 1880.
    Anthropometric data demonstrate a relationship between these 
remains and Siouan-speaking populations of the Northern Plains, 
including Assiniboine and Hidatsa. Letters from military officers 
living in the area in 1868 state that both Assiniboine tribal members 
and Hidatsa tribal members were permanent residents at the Fort Union 
site after the facility was abandoned as a trading post in 1867. 
Historical documents refer to the deaths of Assiniboine women and 
children from Sioux raids during this time period. Between 1870 and 
1884, a Hidatsa band led by Crow-Flies-High resided a few hundred 
meters east of the Fort Union site. They suffered from Sioux raids as 
well. During consultation, representatives of the Assiniboine and Sioux 
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine 
Tribes of Montana, and Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold 
Reservation stated their history indicates an affiliation with the 
human remains and associated funerary objects recovered from the Fort 
Union Trading Post site.

[[Page 52059]]

    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the National 
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of seven 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the National Park 
Service have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 2,293 objects 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, officials of the 
National Park Service 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 these Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the 
Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of 
Montana, and Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Assiniboine and Sioux 
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Chippewa-Cree Indians of 
the Rocky Boy Reservation, Crow Tribe, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine 
Tribes of Montana, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes 
of the Fort Berthold Reservation, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 
Indians. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself 
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should contact Paul Hedren, Superintendent, Fort Union 
Trading Post National Historic Site, R.R. 3, Box 71, Williston, ND 
58801; telephone: (701) 572-9083 before November 4, 1996. Repatriation 
to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of Montana, and Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: September 30, 1996,
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-25472 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F