[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39292-39293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19537]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Sand Creek, CO in the Possession of the Colorado Historical 
Society, Denver, CO

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), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human

[[Page 39293]]

remains from Sand Creek, CO in the possession of the Colorado 
Historical Society, Denver, CO.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Colorado 
Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the 
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the 
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation.
    On November 29, 1864, human remains representing one individual was 
taken from the Sand Creek Massacre site, most likely by Major Jacob 
Downing. These human remains, a scalplock, were donated to the Colorado 
Historical Society in 1911 by Mrs. Jacob Downing. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains consist of a human scalplock. Following the Sand 
Creek Massacre, Congressional testimony provided by eyewitnesses 
records numerous examples of soldiers and officers mutilating the dead 
and removing cultural items for ``trophies''. Major Jacob Downing was 
present at Sand Creek on November 29, 1864 as an officer of the First 
Regiment of the Colorado Volunteers. Based on the preponderance of the 
evidence, these human remains have been determined to be Native 
American and taken at Sand Creek, CO. Consultation with representatives 
of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe 
of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind 
River Reservation indicates that both Cheyenne and Arapaho people were 
slain at Sand Creek, CO.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Colorado 
Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Colorado Historical Society have also determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which 
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains 
and the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne 
Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the Arapaho Tribe of 
the Wind River Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cheyenne-Arapaho 
Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern 
Cheyenne Reservation, and the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact Anne Wainstein Bond, 
Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Colorado Historical Society, 
1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203; telephone: (303) 866-4691, before 
August 21, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the 
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the 
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation may begin after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: July 6, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-19537 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am]
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