[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 15744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6843]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Milwaukee 
Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI

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 remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Milwaukee Public Museum, 
Milwaukee, WI.
    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 Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Milwaukee 
Public Museum professional staff and contract specialists in physical 
anthropology, in consultation with representatives of the Omaha Tribe 
of Nebraska.
    In 1925, A. M. Brooking, founder of the Hastings Museum, Hastings 
NE, removed human remains representing two individuals from a site 
north of Bellevue, Sarpy County, NE. In 1928, the Hastings Museum 
donated these remains to the Milwaukee Public Museum as part of a 
collection. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Milwaukee Public Museum records state that the remains were removed 
from an ``Omaha burial ground.'' Glass beads that were found with the 
remains but were not donated to the Milwaukee Public Museum suggest 
that the remains date to the 19th century.
    Based on cranial morphology and dental characteristics, these human 
remains are identified as Native American. Consultation evidence 
provided by representatives of the Omaha Nation indicates that the 
location of the cemetery is consistent with the extent of the territory 
of the Omaha in the 19th century.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Milwaukee Public Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of two individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Milwaukee Public Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and the 
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should 
contact Dr. Alex Barker, Anthropology Section Head, Milwaukee Public 
Museum, 800 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, telephone (414) 
278-2786, before April 19, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to 
the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: February 23, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-6843 Filed 3-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F