[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6114-6115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02216]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17344;[PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Milwaukee Public Museum, 
Milwaukee, WI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Milwaukee Public Museum has completed an inventory of 
human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian 
tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian 
tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice 
that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the 
Milwaukee Public Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in 
this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to the Milwaukee Public Museum at the address in this 
notice by March 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Dawn Scher Thomae, Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells 
Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, telephone (414) 278-6157, email 
[email protected].

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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Milwaukee Public 
Museum, Milwaukee, WI. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from the Massee Rock Shelter, Isle Royale, 
Keweenaw 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) 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 and associated funerary 
objects. 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 
Milwaukee Public Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of 
Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Keweenaw Bay 
Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Lac 
Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Leech 
Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Mille Lacs Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
    These groups were also invited to consult with MPM: Bois Forte 
(Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Chippewa-Cree Indians of 
the Rocky Boy's Reservation; Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe; Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Menominee 
Nation, Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota 
Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of 
Wisconsin; Montana; and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of 
North Dakota.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1928, human remains representing, at minimum, 15 individuals 
were removed from the Massee Rock Shelter, Isle Royale (20-IR-14) in 
Keweenaw County, MI. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed by Mr. George West and group who were on an expedition to 
examine sites related to native copper mining in the Lake Superior 
region. They stopped on the island and were led to the rock shelter by 
a local fisherman. The minimum number of individuals is 10 adults and 5 
sub adults. Based on several indicators, at least eight of the

[[Page 6115]]

individuals appear to be male and five appear to be female. No known 
individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are 
bird skeletons.

Determinations Made by the Milwaukee Public Museum

    Officials of the Milwaukee Public Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on examination by three 
individuals with extensive knowledge and training in identifying Native 
American human remains.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of at least 15 
individuals of Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two objects 
described in this notice 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.
     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.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Bad River Band of the Lake 
Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation, 
Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians 
of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of 
the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Lac Vieux Desert Band of 
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Leech Lake Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; 
and White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of Bad 
River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad 
River Reservation, Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Lac 
Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Leech 
Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Mille Lacs Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; and White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Bad River 
Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River 
Reservation, Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Lac 
Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Leech 
Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Mille Lacs Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; and White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dawn 
Scher Thomae, Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, 
WI 53233, telephone (414) 278-6157, email [email protected], by March 6, 
2015. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa 
Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles 
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau 
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau 
Reservation of Wisconsin; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe; Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Red Cliff Band 
of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; and White Earth Band of 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe may proceed.
    The Milwaukee Public Museum is responsible for notifying the Bad 
River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad 
River Reservation, Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Lac 
Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Leech 
Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Mille Lacs Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; and White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 17, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-02216 Filed 2-3-15; 8:45 am]
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