[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57623-57624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23017]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
in the Possession of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN

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 in the possession of 
the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN.
    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 Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 
Mexico.
    In 1929-1930, human remains representing 47 individuals were 
removed from the Warm Springs site and Cameron Creek site, Grant 
County, NM, during an archeological excavation conducted by the 
University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Art Institute. No known 
individuals were identified. Ceramic vessels found associated with 
these human remains indicate they were interred between A.D. 1000 and 
1150.
    In 1929, human remains representing 64 individuals were removed 
from the Galaz site, Grant County, NM, during an archeological 
excavation under the direction of A. (Albert) E. Jenks of the 
University of Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. Ceramic 
vessels found associated with these human remains indicate they were 
interred between A.D. 1000 and 1150.
    In 1930, human remains representing 24 individuals were removed 
from the Galaz site, Grant County, NM, during an archeological 
excavation under the direction of L.A. Wilford of the University of 
Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. Ceramic vessels found 
associated with these human remains indicate they were interred between 
A.D. 1000 and 1150.
    In 1931, human remains representing 51 individuals were removed 
from the Galaz site and Hot Springs site, Grant County, NM, during an 
archeological excavation under the direction of A. (Albert) E. Jenks of 
the University of Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. 
Ceramic vessels found associated with these human remains indicate they 
were interred between A.D. 1000 and 1150.
    In 1987, the human remains removed from the Warm Springs site, 
Cameron Creek site, Galaz site, and Hot Springs site were transferred 
to the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council pursuant to provisions of 
Minnesota statute 307.08. The funerary objects originally associated 
with the human remains from the Warm Springs site, Cameron Creek site, 
Galaz site, and Hot Springs site are currently in the possession of the 
Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 
MN.
    The Warm Springs site, Cameron Creek site, Galaz site, and Hot 
Springs site are believed to have been occupied between A.D. 1000 and 
1150 by a group known in the archeological literature as the Mimbres 
tradition. Archeological evidence, including ceramics, art styles, and 
architecture, indicates that the Mimbres tradition was a local variant 
of the Mogollon culture, which was found across a broad area of Arizona 
and New Mexico. Oral tradition indicates a cultural affiliation between 
the Mimbres tradition and several present-day puebloan groups, 
including the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Taos, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of 186 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Minnesota

[[Page 57624]]

Indian Affairs Council 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 
associated funerary objects and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of 
Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Zuni Tribe of 
the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico; and Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact James L. 
(Jim) Jones Jr., Cultural Resource Specialist, Minnesota Indian Affairs 
Council, 1819 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601, telephone (218) 755-
3182, before October 11, 2002. Repatriation of these human remains to 
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 12, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-23017 Filed 9-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S