[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 234 (Thursday, December 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73954-73955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28697]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Michigan Department of Natural 
Resources, Mackinac State Historic Parks, Mackinaw City, 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 Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 
Mackinac State Historic Parks, Mackinaw City, MI. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Emmet and Mackinac 
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 the Mackinac 
State Historic Parks professional staff in consultation with 
representatives from the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Grand 
Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little 
Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, Michigan; Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of 
Chippewa Indians of Michigan; and the Michigan Anishnaabek Cultural 
Preservation and Repatriation Alliance (MACPRA), a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group.
    In 1966, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were excavated from Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City in Emmet 
County, MI, by Dr. Lyle Stone, archeologist, during excavations to 
locate Fort Michilimackinac. The human remains were placed into the 
parks' collection at that time (Accn.  MS2.3438). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1973, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were excavated from the Fort Michilimackinac suburbs, Mackinaw City in 
Emmet County, MI, by W.L. Minnerly, archeologist, during excavations in 
preparation for construction done by the state park. The human remains 
were placed into the parks'collection at that time (Accn.  
F.533). No known individual was identified. The 15 associated funerary 
objects are 12 white seed beads, 2 glass French trade beads, and 1 
kaolin pipestem fragment.
    In 1981, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were recovered from Arch Rock on Mackinac Island in Mackinac County, 
MI, by a park visitor who notified the state park. Dr. Roger Grange, 
archeologist, investigated and determined that the location was a 
Native American rock-shelter burial. The human remains were placed into 
the parks' collection at that time. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1994, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were excavated at the Island House Hotel on Mackinac Island in Mackinac 
County, MI, by Richard Clute, contractual archeologist, during 
excavations to construct a hotel pool. The human remains were 
transferred to the park and were placed into the collection. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The area of Emmet and Mackinac Counties, encompassing the Straits 
of Mackinac, are situated at the top of Michigan's lower peninsula 
(Emmet County) and lower southeast corner of Michigan's upper peninsula 
(Mackinac County). Within the boundaries of Mackinac County, Mackinac 
Island is situated in northern Lake Huron. This area has a long 
established history of Native American occupation before European 
encroachment in the early 17th century. The Anishnaabek, which is 
comprised of the Odawa/Ottawa, Ojibwe/Chippewa and Potawatomi, have 
long called this area home. Officials of the Mackinac State Historic 
Parks have reasonably determined that the individuals described above 
from Emmet and Mackinac Counties are Native American, however, 
officials of the Mackinac State Historic Parks have determined that the 
evidence is insufficient to determine cultural affiliation to any 
present-day Indian tribe.
    Officials of the Mackinac State Historic Parks have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of eight individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Mackinac State Historic Parks also 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 15 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 Mackinac State 
Historic Parks have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), a 
relationship of shared group identity cannot be reasonably traced 
between the Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects and any present-day Indian tribe.
    The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee (Review Committee) is responsible for recommending specific 
actions for disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains. In 
May 2008, Mackinac State Historic Parks requested that the Review 
Committee recommend disposition of eight culturally unidentifiable 
human remains to the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Little 
Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of 
Chippewa Indians of Michigan, as the aboriginal occupants of the lands 
encompassing the present-day Emmet and Mackinac Counties, MI.
    The Review Committee considered the proposal at its May 15-16, 2008 
meeting and recommended disposition of the human remains to the Bay 
Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, 
Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan. A 
July 18, 2008

[[Page 73955]]

letter on behalf of the Secretary of Interior from the Designated 
Federal Official, transmitted the authorization for the state park to 
effect disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
of the culturally unidentifiable individuals to the three Indian tribes 
listed above contingent on the publication of a Notice of Inventory 
Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that 
requirement.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Brian Jaeschke, Registrar, Mackinac State 
Historic Parks, P.O. Box 873, Mackinaw City, MI 40701, telephone (231) 
436-4100, fax (231) 436-4210, before January 5, 2009. Disposition of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Bay Mills 
Indian Community, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, 
Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Mackinac State Historic Parks is responsible for notifying the Bay 
Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Grand Traverse Bay Band of Ottawa and 
Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa, 
Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan; 
and the Michigan Anishnaabek Cultural Preservation and Repatriation 
Alliance (MACPRA), a non-Federally recognized Indian group, that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: October 21, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-28697 Filed 12-3-08; 8:45 am]
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