[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 58 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 15368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6647]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

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 in the possession of the 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO. The human remains were 
removed from an unknown site along the Musselshell River in Montana 
Territory.
    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. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian 
Reservation of Montana and the Crow Tribe of Montana.
    In 1884, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from an unknown site along the Musselshell River in Montana Territory 
by the Crow Chief Plenty Coups. The human remains consist of a scalp. 
At an unknown time and by unknown means, the human remains came into 
the possession of Pat Read, an Indian art dealer. In 1954, Mary W.A. 
Crane and Francis V. Crane obtained the human remains from Mr. Read. In 
1983, Mr. and Mrs. Crane donated the human remains to the museum and 
the human remains were accessioned into the collection in the same 
year. Accompanying the human remains was a handwritten tag stating, 
``Piegan Scalp Taken by the Crow Indian Chief 'Plenty Coos' in a fight 
on the Muscleshell River Montana Ty February 1884 between the Crows, 
some white men and a party of Piegan Horse Thieves. Two white men and 
three Piegans were killed.'' Historically, the Piegan were a 
constituent band of the Blackfeet that are now recognized as the 
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana. 
``Plenty Coos'' refers to a Crow chief named Plenty Coups. ``Ty'' is an 
abbreviation of the word territory. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on provenience, collection documentation, and consultation 
with the Crow Tribe of Montana and Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet 
Indian Reservation of Montana, the human remains have been identified 
as Native American. The Musselshell River lies adjacent to and south of 
Blackfeet territory within territory utilized by the Crow Tribe of 
Montana in the 1800s. The territory was an area of contact between the 
Blackfeet and Crow Nations. Crow tribal elders indicate that the 
remains should be returned to the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet 
Indian Reservation of Montana (Piegan).
    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science also 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 American human remains and the Blackfeet Tribe of 
the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Ella 
Maria Ray, NAGPRA Officer, Department of Anthropology, Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone 
(303) 370-6056, before April 26, 2004. Repatriation of the human 
remains to the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of 
Montana may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana and 
the Crow Tribe of Montana that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 10, 2004.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-6647 Filed 3-24-04; 8:45 am]
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