[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62102-62103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26293]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-19371; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan 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 
University of Michigan. 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 University of Michigan at the address in this notice 
by November 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of 
Michigan Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 S. Thompson 
Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, 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 University of 
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Bay and Saginaw 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) 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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by the University of Michigan Museum of 
Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; 
Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana; Grand 
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay 
Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; 
and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan.
    Additional requests for consultation were sent to the Bad River 
Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River 
Reservation, Wisconsin; Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota; Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Oklahoma; 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; Leech Lake Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; Sac 
& Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, 
Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Sokaogon Chippewa 
Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Turtle 
Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota; and the White Earth 
Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    Hereafter, all tribes listed in this section are referred to as 
``The Invited and Consulted Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In July 1965, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Butterfield site (20BY29) in Bay 
County, MI. UMMAA archeologists conducted a test excavation of the 
site. They collected a single juvenile tooth cap from a fire pit that 
also contained fire cracked rock and lithics. The human remains were 
dated to the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 500-1400) based on diagnostic 
artifacts from other areas of the site. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    From June 20-28, 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Kantzler site (20BY30) in Bay County, 
MI. Members of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the Michigan 
Archaeological Society originally excavated the site in 1965. They 
noted multiple archeological components and evidence of occupation from 
the Archaic to Post-Contact

[[Page 62103]]

Periods. No human remains were found during this excavation. UMMAA 
archeologists also conducted an excavation of the site in 1966. They 
collected the human remains of a child, buried in a tightly flexed 
position, along with turtle and fish bones. No date or time period 
could be established for the human remains. No known individuals were 
identified. The 1 associated funerary object present is 1 lot of turtle 
and fish bones.
    In 1923, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from the Schmidt 2-4 site (20BY1) in Bay County, MI. A 
landowner donated these human remains and objects to the UMMAA on an 
unknown date. The human remains are of 1 child, 1 adolescent possibly 
male, 1 young adult female, and 1 adult male. No date or time period 
could be established for the human remains. No known individuals were 
identified. The 1 associated funerary object present is 1 lot of 
unworked stones, fossil coral, and animal bone.
    In the summer of 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from the Mahoney Property site (20SA193) in 
Saginaw County, MI. UMMAA archeologists collected the human remains as 
part of a survey project conducted in the area. The human remains are 
sun-bleached and highly weathered, and are from 1 adult and 1 cremated 
adult. No date or time period could be established for the human 
remains. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

    Officials of the University of Michigan have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on cranial morphology, dental 
traits, archeological context, and accession documentation.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of eight individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 2 objects described 
in this notice 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.
     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 Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of 
Michigan.
     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 The 
Invited and Consulted Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to The Invited and 
Consulted Tribes.

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 Dr. Ben 
Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan Office of 
Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 S. Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 
48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, email [email protected], by 
November 16, 2015. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Invited and Consulted Tribes may proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The Invited 
and Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 22, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-26293 Filed 10-14-15; 8:45 am]
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