[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2083-2084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-517]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, 
Bemidji, MN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has completed an 
inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation 
between the remains and any present-day Indian tribe. Representatives 
of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with the human remains may contact the Minnesota Indian Affairs 
Council. Disposition of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated 
below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council at the address below by February 13, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: James L. (Jim) Jones, Cultural Resource Director, Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, 3801 Bemidji Avenue NW., Suite 5, Bemidji, MN 
56601, telephone (218) 755-3223.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Minnesota Indian Affairs Council (MIAC). The human 
remains were removed from Becker County, MN.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(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. The National Park Service 
is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the MIAC 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Leech 
Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; and the White Earth Band of Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were recovered from the north side of Height of Land Lake, site 21BK48, 
by Mr. William Krause during road construction and donated to the 
Becker County Historical Society (HR-4). In 1997, the human remains 
were transferred to the Minnesota Office of the State Archaeologist, 
and subsequently were transferred to the MIAC (H362) in 1999. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The human remains have no archeological classification and cannot 
be associated with any present-day Indian tribe. Site 21BK48 is located 
on land within the reservation boundaries of the White Earth Band of 
the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    In 1961, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were recovered near Ice Cracking Lake during road construction and 
donated to the Becker County Historical Society (HR-7). In 1997, the 
human remains were transferred to the Minnesota Office of the State 
Archaeologist, and subsequently were transferred to the MIAC (H360) in 
1999. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The human remains have no archeological classification and cannot 
be associated with any present-day Indian tribe. This burial site is 
located on land within the reservation

[[Page 2084]]

boundaries of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota.

Determinations Made by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

    Officials of the MIAC have determined that:
     Based on non-destructive physical analysis and catalogue 
records, the human remains are Native American.
     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.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission, the land from which the Native American human remains were 
removed is within the reservation boundaries of the White Earth Band of 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains is to the White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains or any other Indian tribe 
that believes it satisfies the criteria in 43 CFR10.11(c)(1) should 
contact James L. (Jim) Jones, Cultural Resource Director, Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, 3801 Bemidji Avenue NW., Suite 5, Bemidji, MN 
56601, telephone (218) 755-3223, before February 13, 2012. Disposition 
of the human remains to the White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota may proceed after that date if no additional 
requestors come forward.
    The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council is responsible for notifying 
the Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; and the White Earth Band of 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: January 9, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-517 Filed 1-12-12; 8:45 am]
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