[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 47 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10762-10763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5328]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great 
Plains Regional Office, Aberdeen, SD

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 
object in the possession of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Plains 
Regional Office, Aberdeen, SD. The human remains and associated 
funerary object were removed from Buffalo and Hughes Counties, SD.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (3)(d). 
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 object. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the South 
Dakota State Historical Society-Archaeological Research Center 
professional staff under the direction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Great Plains Regional Office staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 
Dakota.
    In 1986, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from a cache pit at the Twin or Lillian All Arounds 
Village, 39BF206/87-131, Buffalo County, SD, by The Archeology Lab-
Augustana College personnel during improvements to the Jennessee Road. 
The human remains were curated at the South Dakota State Historical 
Society-Archaeological Research Center in Rapid City, SD. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The manner of burial suggests that the human remains are associated 
with the Extended Coalescent Period (A.D. 1500-A.D. 1675). Based on 
archeological,

[[Page 10763]]

geographical and physical anthropological data, the Extended Coalescent 
Period is most likely culturally related with the Arikara Tribe.
    In 1989 and 1990, human remains representing a minimum of 16 
individuals were removed from burial and cache pits at the Indian 
School Village, 39HU10/90-96, Hughes County, SD, by The Archeology Lab-
Augustana College personnel during construction of a dining hall and 
waterlines. The human remains are curated at the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs office. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1977, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed from cache and burial pits at the Indian School Village, 
39HU10/94-245, Hughes County, SD, by South Dakota State Historical 
Society-Archaeological Research Center personnel. The human remains 
were recovered during salvage excavations following disturbance by 
construction of a housing development. The human remains were curated 
at the Archaeological Research Center in Rapid City. No known 
individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is bark 
matting that covered one of the burials.
    The manner of the burials suggests that the human remains are 
associated with the Extended (A.D. 1500-A.D. 1675) and Post-Contact 
Coalescent (A.D. 1675-A.D. 1750) Periods. Based on archeological, 
geographical and physical anthropological data, the Extended and Post-
Contact Coalescent Periods are most likely culturally related with the 
Arikara Tribe.
    A physical anthropological assessment of the human remains resulted 
in a determination that the individuals are most likely Native 
American. An evaluation by the South Dakota State Historical Society-
Archaeological Research Center professional staff under the direction 
of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Plains Regional Office staff on 
the manner and location of the burials and type of associated funerary 
object, also supports an identification of the human remains as Native 
American and most likely culturally identifiable as Arikara. The 
Arikara Tribe is part of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation that 
comprises the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, 
North Dakota.
    In June 2008, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation of the Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota 
submitted a request to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Plains 
Regional Office for repatriation of the human remains and one 
associated funerary object from the Indian School and Twin or Lillian 
All Arounds Villages.
    Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of 21 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3) (A), the one object 
described above is 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 Bureau of Indian 
Affairs have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), a 
relationship of shared group identity can reasonably be traced between 
the Native American human remains and the associated funerary object 
and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 
Dakota.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
object should contact Paul Hofmann, Chief, Division of Environment, 
Safety and Cultural Resources, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 115 4th Ave. 
SE, MC208, Aberdeen, SD 57401, telephone (605) 226-7656, before April 
13, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
object to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, 
North Dakota may proceed after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
    The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Great Plains Regional Office is 
responsible for notifying the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort 
Berthold Reservation, North Dakota that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 3, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-5328 Filed 3-11-09; 8:45 am]
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