[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 75 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20941-20942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8303]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Kingman Museum, Incorporated, 
Battle Creek, 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 of the Kingman Museum, Incorporated, Battle Creek, MI. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from an 
island near Metlakatla, AK.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25

[[Page 20942]]

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.
    Prior to 2000, a detailed assessment of the human remains was made 
by Kingman Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Island 
Reserve.
    On September 17, 2002, Calhoun County Probate Court transferred the 
public trust for Kingman Memorial Museum of Natural History from Battle 
Creek Public Schools to Kingman Museum, Incorporated, a private, 
nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. In April of 2006, 
collection ownership was transferred from the Battle Creek Public 
Schools to Kingman Museum, Incorporated.
    Before 1904, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from a cave in the mountains on an island near 
Metlakatla, AK. According to museum documentation, the human remains, 
consisting of a mummified head and a human scalp, were found by two 
Native American boys and were collected by Esther Gibson, an Alaskan 
missionary. The mummified head and scalp were in a burial box 
containing a cedar bark basket used for cremation ashes, and a buckskin 
pouch. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg donated the human remains and cultural 
items to the Kingman Museum of Natural History in 1904. It is unknown 
how the human remains and cultural items were transferred from Esther 
Gibson to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg. No known individuals were 
identified. The three associated funerary objects are one burial box, 
one basket for cremation ashes, and one buckskin pouch.
    The individuals have been identified as Native American based on 
the museum's documentation, geographic information, and consultation 
evidence. The location of the burial is within the historically 
documented territory of the Metlakatla Indians. The exact date of the 
burial is unknown, but based on burial practices and the style of 
associated funerary objects, the human remains are post-contact and 
likely to date to the 19th century. Information provided at the time of 
consultation indicates that the human remains and associated funerary 
objects are likely to be affiliated to the members of the Metlakatla 
Indian Community.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were donated to the Kingman Museum of Natural History. The 
human remains consist of a shock of human hair, wrapped in brown paper 
and tied with string. Attached to the string is a tag labeled ``Hair of 
Metlakatla Man--Alaska.'' No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The individual has been identified as Native American based on the 
museum's documentation, geographic information, and consultation 
evidence. The museum's catalog describes the human hair as belonging to 
a Metlakatla man. Information provided at the time of consultation 
indicates that the human remains are likely to be affiliated to members 
of the Metlakatla Indian Community.
    Officials of Kingman Museum, Incorporated have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of a minimum of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of Kingman Museum, Incorporated 
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 Kingman 
Museum, Incorporated 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 
associated funerary objects and the Metlakatla Indian Community, 
Annette Island Reserve.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Katie Nelson, Collection Manager, Kingman 
Museum, Incorporated, 175 Limit Street, Battle Creek, MI 49037, 
telephone (269) 965-5117, before May 19, 2008. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Metlakatla Indian 
Community, Annette Island Reserve may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    Kingman Museum, Incorporated is responsible for notifying the 
Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Island Reserve that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: March 10, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-8303 Filed 4-17-08; 8:45 am]
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