[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 680-681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-148]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, 
Bemidji, MN, and U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, 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. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from sites in Cass and 
Beltrami Counties, MN.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of 
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the 
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 Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; 
Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Lower Sioux 
Indian Community in the State of Minnesota; Prairie Island Indian 
Community in the State of Minnesota; Santee Sioux Tribe of the Santee 
Reservation of Nebraska; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of 
Minnesota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake Traverse 
Reservation, South Dakota; and Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota.
    During the late 19th century, human remains representing one 
individual were removed by T.H. Lewis from site 21-BL-18, Beltrami 
County, MN. The human remains were subsequently acquired by a Reverend 
Mitchell and donated to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1905. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1934, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed by L.A. Wilford from the Mud Lake Mounds site (21-CA-2), 
Cass County, MN. No known individuals were identified. The three 
associated funerary objects are two Blackduck Culture pottery sherds 
and one animal bone.
    Before 1938, human remains representing one individual were removed 
by Louis Kruschle from the shore of Leech Lake, Cass County, MN. The 
human remains were subsequently acquired by William Schlecht and 
donated to the University of Minnesota in 1938. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1958, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
by T.V. Grandy at the Episcopal Mission site (21-BL-8/9), Beltrami 
County, MN. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1987, the human remains and associated funerary objects 
described above were transferred to the Minnesota Indian Affairs 
Council pursuant to provisions of Minnesota statute 307.08.
    Archeological evidence indicates that the human remains and 
associated funerary objects are representative of the Woodland 
Tradition, a broad archeological classification that in northern 
Minnesota is related to present-day Siouan tribes. The Mud Lake Mound 
site (21-CA-2), sites 21-BL-8/9 and 21-BL-18, and the shores of Leech 
Lake are all located on land held in trust by the United States for the 
Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    Officials of the Minnesota Indians Affairs Council and Bureau of 
Indian Affairs have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), 
the human remains described above represent the physical remains of 
seven individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and Bureau of Indian Affairs also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the three objects 
described 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 Minnesota Indian 
Affairs Council and Bureau of Indian Affairs have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group 
identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native

[[Page 681]]

American human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Lower Sioux Indian 
Community in the State of Minnesota; Prairie Island Indian Community in 
the State of Minnesota; Santee Sioux Tribe of the Santee Reservation of 
Nebraska; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota; Sisseton-
Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; 
and Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Joseph Day, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, 
3801 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601, telephone (218) 755-3825, 
before February 5, 2004. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of 
South Dakota; Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota; 
Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota; Santee Sioux 
Tribe of the Santee Reservation, Nebraska; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux 
Community of Minnesota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake 
Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; and Upper Sioux Community, 
Minnesota may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council is responsible for notifying 
the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Leech Lake Band of 
the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Lower Sioux Indian Community 
in the State of Minnesota; Prairie Island Indian Community in the State 
of Minnesota; Santee Sioux Tribe of the Santee Reservation of Nebraska; 
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota; Sisseton-Wahpeton 
Sioux Tribe of Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; and Upper Sioux 
Community, Minnesota that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 25, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-148 Filed 1-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-50-S