[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55423-55424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21996]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN, and in the Control of the U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American

[[Page 55424]]

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 Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, 
Bemidji, MN, and in the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC.
    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 the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota.
    In 1965, human remains representing three individuals were removed 
from the Petaga Point site (21-ML-11), Mille Lacs County, MN, during 
archeological excavations conducted by L.R. Cooper of the University of 
Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. The three associated 
funerary objects are two copper coils (578.61) and one piece of birch 
bark.
    Based on material culture present at the Petaga Point site (21-ML-
11), these burials have been identified as postcontact cemetery burials 
related to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. These human remains are from 
within the present reservation and the ceded aboriginal territory of 
the Mille Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota. 
Traditionally, members of the tribe have wrapped human remains in birch 
bark before interring them. Birch bark was associated with the burial 
and is considered additional evidence that the human remains were 
ancestors of the present-day Mille Lac Ojibwe.
    In 1949, human remains representing four individuals were removed 
from the Kathio School or Vineland Bay site (21-ML-7), Mille Lacs 
County, MN, by L.A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. The remains of one individual were 
recovered from a burial. The remains of three other individuals were 
recovered from a feature near the burial. The 1325 associated funerary 
objects recovered from the feature near the burial are 1 bear skull 
(301-9), 17 bear bones (301), 80 deer bones (301), 16 deer teeth (301), 
75 fish bones (301), 42 turtle bones (301), 1 rabbit skull (301), 23 
pieces of bird bone (301), 6 beaver bones (301), 18 beaver teeth (301), 
4 bone tools (301), 840 pieces of unidentifiable medium to large mammal 
bones (301), 14 unidentifiable medium to large mammal skull bone 
fragments (301), 2 elk bones (301), 3 canine bones (301), 81 burnt bone 
fragments (301), 2 pottery rim sherds (301), 6 pottery sherds (301), 3 
pieces of bark (301), 90 pieces of unidentifiable small to medium 
mammal bones (301), and 1 large mammal cranial fragment (301).
    In 1966, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from the Kathio School or Vineland Bay site (21-ML-7), Mille Lacs 
County, MN, by O.E. Johnson of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. The 108 associated funerary objects are 17 
pottery sherds (606-55), 2 projectile points (606-55), 17 lithic flakes 
(606-55), 8 pieces of fire-cracked rock (606-55), 1 quartz scraper 
(606-55), 1 quartz piece (606-55), 2 pieces of burnt clay (606-55), 29 
pieces of burnt bone (606-55), 17 pieces of fish bone (606-55), and 14 
fragments of large mammal bone (606-55).
    In 1967, human remains representing eight individuals were removed 
from the Kathio School or Vineland Bay site (21-ML-7), Mille Lacs 
County, MN, by D. Dickinson of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. The 104 associated funerary objects 
consist of human hair, 13 dog skull fragments (638), 1 copper breast 
plate with wood (638), 1 hide flesher, 1 bone awl (638-202), 11 
unidentified bone fragments (638-186, 638-206), 1 burnt bone fragment, 
1 siltstone scraper, 52 lithic flakes (638-201, 638-193,638-243), 2 
fish bone fragments, 1 deer bone, 1 small blue bead,, 1 rusted iron 
bracelet (638-190), 1 copper bracelet (638-203), 1 woven cloth from a 
burial (638-163), 1 piece of bark, 1 piece of quartz (638-197), 1 
copper fragment (638-194), 1 piece of copper (638-192), 1 bird bone 
(638-246), 1 copper tube bead (638-244), 1 bear tooth (638-234), 6 
ceramic sherds, and 3 projectile points (638-199, 638-245, 638-248).
    Based on material culture present at the Kathio School or Vineland 
Bay site (21-ML-7), these burials have been identified as postcontact 
cemetery burials related to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. These human 
remains are from within the present reservation and the ceded 
aboriginal territory of the Mille Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota. The funerary objects found with these human remains 
are traditionally the items that Ojibwe people put into burials and are 
considered additional evidence that the human remains were ancestors of 
the present-day Mille Lacs Ojibwe.
    In 1966, human remains representing four individuals were removed 
from Strawberry Hill (21-ML-14), Mille Lacs County, County, MN, by T. 
Dahlquist and J. Kaufert of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on oral traditions and historic documents, Strawberry Hill is 
recognized as an historic Ojibwe cemetery. It is within the current 
reservation and the ceded aboriginal territory of the Mille Lacs Band 
of Ojibwe.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains 
listed above represent the physical remains of 20 individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council also have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 1540 objects listed above are reasonably 
believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at 
the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony. 
Lastly, officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council 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 
associated funerary objects and the Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Mille Lacs Band of 
the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota and the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should contact James L. Jones, Cultural 
Resource Specialist, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, 1819 Bemidji 
Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601; telephone (218) 755-3825, before September 
30, 2002. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: July 29, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-21996 Filed 8-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S