[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 249 (Monday, December 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79504-79506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30899]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Muskegon County Museum, Muskegon, 
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 in the possession of the 
Muskegon County Museum, Muskegon, MI. The human remains were removed 
from Muskegon and Oceana 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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Muskegon 
County

[[Page 79505]]

Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little 
River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of 
Odawa Indians, Michigan; and Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in Muskegon County, 
MI. In 1939, the human remains were donated to the Muskegon County 
Museum (Accession 697). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in Muskegon County, 
MI. In 1939, the human remains were donated to the Muskegon County 
Museum (Accession 699). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in Muskegon County, 
MI. In 1939, the human remains were donated to the Muskegon County 
Museum (Accession 766). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In the 1930s, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the McNeal Mound, Wolf Lake, Muskegon 
County, MI. The human remains were accessioned by the Muskegon County 
Museum (Accession 1500). No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1942, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Vanderwall Mounds (also known as Porter Mounds), 
Stoney Lake, Oceana County, MI. The human remains were accessioned by 
the Muskegon County Museum (Accession 2602). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1942, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Vanderwall Mounds (also known as Porter Mounds), 
Stoney Lake, Oceana County, MI. The human remains were accessioned by 
the Muskegon County Museum (Accession 2603). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1942, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Vanderwall Mounds (also known as Porter Mounds), 
Stoney Lake, Oceana County, MI. The human remains were accessioned by 
the Muskegon County Museum (Accession 2604.a). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from Duck Lake Channel, Fruitland Township, 
Muskegon County, MI, by Cub Scouts. The human remains were accessioned 
by the Muskegon County Museum (Accession 2604.b). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1942, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Vanderwall Mounds (also known as Porter Mounds), 
Stoney Lake, Oceana County, MI. The human remains were accessioned by 
the Muskegon County Museum (Accession 2605). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The above described human remains came into the possession of the 
Muskegon County Museum through private donations. The areas are within 
known or suspected Native American occupation. The Muskegon County 
Museum has made the determination that the human remains described 
above are of Native American origin due to their age and association 
with areas evidencing a Native American presence.
    The Muskegon area, which lies on the western shore of Michigan and 
at the mouth of the Muskegon River, has a long established history of 
Native American occupation that predates 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. Oral traditions for the Anishnaabek place themselves in Michigan 
for incalculable generations before contact with Europeans.
    Ancient trail systems, villages sites and burial mounds have been 
found in Muskegon County by one of the early founders of Michigan 
Archeology, Wilbert Hinsdale (``Atlas of Michigan Archeology,'' Map 7), 
which officials of the Muskegon County Museum reasonably believe 
reinforces Anishnaabek oral traditions of their occupation of the 
western shore of Michigan. Although Anishnaabek occupation, 
particularly by the Odawa in the Muskegon area, does not appear in 
European record until the mid-1700s, the lack of documentary evidence 
might be explained as a consequence of the Iroquois War (A.D.1640-
1671), also known as the Beaver Wars.
    The French were the first Europeans to make contact with the Great 
Lakes Indians. The first written account of the French encountering the 
Anishnaabek, a group of Odawa warriors on the Georgian Bay, occurred in 
1615. Soon after their initial meeting, the French began a very 
prosperous fur trade with the Odawa and neighboring Great Lakes tribes. 
Around 1640, the Iroquois had depleted the fur supply in their 
traditional territories. This demand for furs, coupled with 
longstanding tribal hostilities, prompted the Iroquois to wage war for 
furs in the Great Lakes region. Iroquois aggression, in effect, 
depopulated the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from 1640-1670. Tribes who 
did not flee from the advancing Iroquois war parties were reportedly 
devastated. Odawas living in the Lower Peninsula did not wish to meet 
the same fate, and large bands dispersed into the Upper Peninsula, 
Wisconsin, and Western Minnesota. After years of becoming refugees in 
their own homeland, the Anishnaabek banded together to run the Iroquois 
out of Michigan. The decisive battle was fought in 1662, at Iroqouis 
Point, near Sault Ste. Marie (Tanner, 31).
    When peace was reached with the Iroquois in 1701, the Odawa and 
Ojibwe slowly began to re-inhabit the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and 
although war was a continual occurrence in Michigan for the Anishnaabek 
from the 1600s until the conclusion of the War of 1812, only the 
Iroquois War displaced the Odawa and Ojibwe from Michigan and only for 
a brief time. The west coast of Michigan was chosen for village sites 
due to its availability to water, game, fertile soil and fish (Feest 
and Feest, 774). From 1700 to 1740, groups of Odawa and Ojibwe moved 
south, choosing locations such as L'Abre Croch, Grand Traverse, 
Manistee, Muskegon, and the Grand River area (McClurken 4). By 1768, 
these locations had become well-established Anishnaabek settlements, 
with most villages being Odawa.
    In sum, based on oral tradition and historical information, the 
Anishnaabek have occupied the Muskegon area for a long time. 
Archeological evidence from Wilbert Hinsdale and testimony about burial 
ceremonies from Andrew Blackbird (``History of the Ottawa and Chippewa 
Indians in Michigan,'' 1887) also comprise a reasonable basis for the 
officials of the Muskegon County Museum to determine that the human 
remains from Muskegon are Native American, and of Anishnaabek origin. 
However, the officials of the Muskegon County Museum cannot reasonably 
determine a shared group relationship with any present-day Indian 
Tribe.
    Officials of the Muskegon County Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above

[[Page 79506]]

represent the physical remains of nine individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Muskegon County Museum also 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 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, the Muskegon County Museum requested that the Review 
Committee recommend disposition of nine culturally unidentifiable human 
remains to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, 
Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; and Saginaw Chippewa 
Indian Tribe of Michigan, as the aboriginal occupants of the lands 
encompassing the present-day area of Muskegon and Oceana Counties, MI.
    The Review Committee considered the proposal at its May 15-16, 2008 
meeting and recommended disposition of the human remains to the Grand 
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River 
Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians, Michigan; and Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, as 
the aboriginal occupants. A June 6, 2008 letter on behalf of the 
Secretary of Interior from the Designated Federal Official transmitted 
the authorization for the museum to effect disposition of the 
culturally unidentifiable human remains to the four 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 should contact John 
McGarry, Executive Director, Muskegon County Museum, 430 W. Clay, 
Muskegon, MI 49440, telephone (231) 722-0278, before January 28, 2009 
Disposition of the human remains to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa 
and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, 
Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; and 
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Muskegon County Museum is responsible for notifying the Grand 
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River 
Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians, Michigan; and Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 12, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-30899 Filed 12-24-08; 8:45 am]
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