[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 33352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12849]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Mankato, MN in the Possession of the Public Museum of Grand 
Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI

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), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains from Mankato, MN in 
the possession of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Public 
Museum of Grand Rapids professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota 
Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of the Lower Sioux Reservation in Minnesota; 
the Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux 
Community of Minnesota; and the Prairie Island Indian Community of 
Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of the Prairie Island Reservation, 
Minnesota.
    Around 1915, human remains representing one individual were 
obtained from G.S. Knapp of Chicago, IL by the Public Museum of Grand 
Rapids by an unknown method. This individual has been identified as 
Marpiya Okinajin, a Dakota man executed in 1862 following the United 
States--Dakota War. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The identification of these human remains as those of Marpiya 
Okinajin is based on a note found with the remains indicating it is a 
piece of skin from ``Chief Cut Nose'', an alleged leader of the ``New 
Ulm Massacre''. Historic documents confirm that Marpiya Okinajin was 
among the 38 men executed by the U.S. government on December 26, 1862 
at Mankato, MN. ``Cut Nose'' was used as the translation of Marpiya 
Okinajin by Americans at the time. Further information indicates that 
following his execution, this piece of Marpiya Okinajin's skin was 
removed from his body by a ``Dr. Sheardown.'' There is no information 
to indicate these human remains are not those of Marpiya Okinajin. No 
verified lineal descendants have come forward, and a claim of cultural 
affiliation has been submitted by representatives of the Lower Sioux 
Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of the Lower 
Sioux Reservation in Minnesota.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Public 
Museum of Grand Rapids 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 Public 
Museum of Grand Rapids have 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 
Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of 
the Lower Sioux Reservation in Minnesota; the Spirit Lake Tribe, North 
Dakota; the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota; and the 
Prairie Island Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians 
of the Prairie Island Reservation, Minnesota.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Lower Sioux Indian 
Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of the Lower Sioux 
Reservation in Minnesota; the Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; the 
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota; and the Prairie 
Island Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of the 
Prairie Island Reservation, Minnesota. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains or lineal descendants of Maripiya Okinajin should 
contact Timothy J. Chester, Director, Public Museum of Grand Rapids, 
272 Pearl NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504; telephone: (616) 456-3511, before 
June 22, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains to the Lower Sioux 
Indian Community of Minnesota Mdewakanton Sioux Indians of the Lower 
Sioux Reservation in Minnesota may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: May 8, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-12849 Filed 5-22-00; 8:45 am]
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