[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 160 (Thursday, August 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42094-42095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19970]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Anthropology, 
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 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 
Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The 
human remains were removed from the Wequetonsing area near Harbor 
Springs, Emmet County, 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 Museum of 
Anthropology professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    In 1924, a collection containing human remains and a variety of 
archeological materials collected from around Michigan and North 
America was purchased by the University of Michigan from Rev. L.P. 
Rowland of Detroit, MI. The human remains and many of the artifacts 
were recovered from the Lake Michigan shore area in Emmet County, MI. A 
substantial portion of this collection, including one set of human 
remains (Accession 206) and cultural items were determined to 
be culturally affiliated with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians, Michigan. The individual and cultural items were described in 
a Notice published in the Federal Register (62 FR 8265-8266, February 
24, 1997), and were subsequently repatriated later that same year. At 
that time it was determined that two comingled sets of human remains 
that were part of the same accession were not Native American. The 
human remains are of an adult and a second, younger adult individual. 
Since that time, based on skeletal and dental morphology, the older 
individual has been identified as being of mixed European and Native 
American ancestry. There is insufficient evidence to positively 
determine the biological affiliation of the younger individual, but 
they may also be of mixed European and Native American ancestry. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Accession and other collections information suggests that the human 
remains were recovered from the Wequetonsing area near Harbor Springs, 
MI. Rev. Rowland's catalog indicates that glass beads were found with 
the human remains. Based on the observation of glass trade beads, the 
human remains most likely date to the post-contact era in northern 
Michigan (circa A.D. 1600-1800).
    Based on historical documents and consultation with the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan, the Odawa occupied the 
Wequetonsing area throughout much of the historic era. The Wequetonsing 
area is within the area granted to the Odawa for settlement in treaties 
signed in 1836 and 1855, and is within the current reservation boundary 
of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan. While 
historic sources also mention the presence of Potawatomi, Mascouten, 
and Ojibwa in the general area, the Odawa are the predominant group 
associated with the Wequetonsing and Harbor Springs locality.
    While the biological ancestry of the two individuals may be mixed, 
based on the burial treatment of the individual, appearance of grave 
features as described by Rev. Rowland, and consultation with tribal 
representatives, officials of the Museum of Anthropology reasonably 
believe the human remains have a Native American cultural identity. 
Based on the observation of glass beads, the interments likely date to 
the historic era. Given the location of the interments, they are most 
likely culturally affiliated with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of 
Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Officials of the Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human 
remains described above represent the physical remains of two 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Museum of 
Anthropology, University of Michigan also have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is

[[Page 42095]]

a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the Native American human remains and the Little Traverse Bay 
Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. John 
O'Shea, NAGPRA Coordinator, Museum of Anthropology, University of 
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, telephone (734) 764-0485, before 
September 21, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains to the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan is responsible 
for notifying the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 16, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-19970 Filed 8-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S