[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32844-32845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15304]


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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 U.S. 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Agate Fossil Beds 
National Monument, Harrison, NE

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 U.S. Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 
Harrison, NE.
    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 
National Park Service unit that has control or possession of these 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The 
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships is 
not responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment and inventory of the human remains was made 
by National Park Service professional staff in consultation with the 
representatives of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana; Crow Tribe of 
Montana; Pawnee Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of 
South Dakota; and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River 
Reservation, South Dakota, and Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, 
representing the signatories of the Siouan Intertribal Repatriation 
Memorandum of Agreement (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne 
River Reservation, South Dakota; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South 
Dakota; Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Rosebud Sioux Tribe of 
South Dakota; Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska; and Yankton Sioux Tribe 
of South Dakota).
    On September 15, 1901, Lakota Chief Wolf Ears presented James Cook 
with two scalps. According to Mr. Cook's notes, one scalp was 
identified as Blackfeet (AGFO 122) and the other scalp was identified 
as Crow (AGFO 121). Lakota warriors Blueshield and/or Little Wound and 
Young Man Afraid also presented Mr. Cook with two scalps (AGFO 120 and 
123). According to Mr. Cook's notes, these two scalp locks were 
identified as Pawnee. All four scalp locks were in the Cook collection 
that was donated to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in 1968. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Consultation with representatives of the Pawnee Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma, Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, and Crow Tribe of Montana 
indicates that all three Indian tribes were traditional enemies of the 
Lakota. Consultation with representatives of the Siouan Intertribal 
Repatriation group indicates that the Lakota engaged in warfare with 
the Pawnee, Blackfeet, and Crow during the 19th century. It was 
considered an honor to take the scalp of a slain enemy, a sign of 
victory. The four scalp locks described in this notice have been 
identified by the Lakota as peco'kanyan, scalp locks. Lakota 
consultants state that scalp locks have a continuing spiritual 
significance in completion of the scalp dance (Iwa'kiciwacipe), in the 
final disposition of the enemy spirit associated with the physical 
remains.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, the superintendent of 
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument has determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry. The 
superintendent of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument also has 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between two of 
these Native American human remains (AGFO 120 and 123) and the Pawnee 
Nation of Oklahoma. The superintendent of Agate Fossil Beds National 
Monument also has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there 
is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between one of these Native American human remains (AGFO 122) 
and the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana. 
The superintendent of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument also has 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between one of 
these Native American human remains (AGFO 121) and the Crow Tribe of 
Montana. Finally, the superintendent of Agate Fossil Beds National 
Monument has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between all four of these Native American human remains (AGFO 120, 121, 
122, and 123) and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River 
Reservation, South Dakota; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South 
Dakota; Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Rosebud Sioux Tribe of 
South Dakota; Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska; and Yankton Sioux Tribe 
of South Dakota.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pawnee Nation of 
Oklahoma; Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of 
Montana; Crow Tribe of Montana; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; 
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the 
Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; Flandreau Santee Sioux

[[Page 32845]]

Tribe of South Dakota; Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Rosebud 
Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska; and 
Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains should contact superintendent Ruthann Knudson, 
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 301 River Road, Harrison, NE 
69346-2734, telephone (308) 668-2211, facsimile (308) 668-2318, e-mail 
[email protected], no later than July 18, 2001. Repatriation of 
the human remains to the Pawnee Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, Blackfeet 
Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana, and Crow Tribe of 
Montana may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: May 7, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-15304 Filed 6-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F