[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]
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