[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54073-54074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18081]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Besser Museum for Northeast 
Michigan, Alpena, MI

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 and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, 
Alpena, MI. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Alpena, Ionia, Oceana, Ottawa, and Wayne Counties, MI.
    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 in 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 in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Besser 
Museum for Northeast Michigan professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
    In 1944, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from Henry Ford's property near Dearborn, Wayne County, 
MI, by Gwynn Cushman. Mr. Cushman was an avocational archeologist who 
collected from the southern part of lower Michigan. Notes made at the 
time of the excavation indicate that the human remains were part of 
several bundle burials. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Prior to 1950, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an undesignated site in southeastern 
Michigan, but most likely in Alpena County, as part of road 
construction activity. The road crew sent the human remains to Gerald 
Haltiner of Alpena, MI, an archeologist and collector of Native 
American artifacts from Michigan. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Prior to 1950, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an

[[Page 54074]]

undesignated mound site near Port Sheldon, Ottawa County, MI, by Mr. 
Cushman. No known individual was identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are an animal tooth and a piece of sponge-like 
material.
    In 1954, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Hilltop Fort site near Lyons, Ionia County, MI, 
by Mr. Cushman. Notes taken at the time of excavation indicate that the 
site was on the north side of the Grand River. No known individual was 
identified. The 331 associated funerary objects are 94 ceramic sherds 
and 237 lithic flakes.
    Prior to 1955, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an undesignated site in Oceana County, MI, 
by Mr. Cushman. No known individuals were identified. The 31 associated 
funerary objects are 16 ceramic sherds, 14 pieces of charcoal, and 1 
lithic flake.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from an undesignated site in southern Michigan 
by Mr. Cushman. No known individuals were identified. No funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1956, Mr. Haltiner acquired Native American human remains, 
artifacts, and archeological material from Mr. Cushman in addition to 
those that had been acquired by Mr. Haltiner himself. In 1969, the 
Jesse Besser Museum acquired all of the above mentioned human remains 
and cultural items as part of the ``Haltiner Collection''.
    In 2005, the Jesse Besser Museum became the Besser Museum for 
Northeast Michigan.
    Based on the location of the human remains, their state of 
preservation, and the type of objects found with them, all of the above 
mentioned individuals have been determined to be Native American. All 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects are believed to 
have been removed from sites within the aboriginal territory of the 
Chippewa, Ottawa, Wyandot, and Potawatomi tribes as codified in 
treaties with the United States on November 17, 1806, September 24, 
1819, August 29, 1820, and March 28, 1836. The present-day Indian 
tribes that resided within those aboriginal lands at the time the 
treaties were signed include the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; 
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Huron Potawatomi, Inc., 
Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert 
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of 
Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, 
Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; 
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe 
of Chippewa Indians of Michigan. Consultation with tribal 
representatives indicate that the above mentioned Indian tribes have a 
relationship of shared group identity with the human remains and 
associated funerary objects. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of 
Michigan has made a request for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects.
    Officials of the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of nine individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Besser Museum for Northeast 
Michigan also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 362 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 
Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan 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 associated funerary objects and the Bay Mills Indian Community, 
Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Huron Potawatomi, Inc., 
Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert 
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of 
Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, 
Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; 
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe 
of Chippewa Indians of Michigan.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Richard Clute, Curator of Anthropology, Besser 
Museum for Northeast Michigan, 491 Johnson Street, Alpena, MI 49707, 
telephone (989) 356-2202, before October 13, 2005. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Saginaw Chippewa 
Indian Tribe of Michigan may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is responsible for 
notifying the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Grand Traverse Band 
of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Hannahville Indian Community, 
Michigan; Huron Potawatomi, Inc., Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian 
Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; 
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of 
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe 
of Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 3, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-18081 Filed 9-12-05; 8:45 am]
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