[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35051-35052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12750]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21133; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Canyon de Chelly National Monument has completed an inventory of human 
remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and has identified a lineal descendant of the 
human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 
should submit a written request to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. 
If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Canyon de 
Chelly National Monument at the address in this notice by July 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Lyn Carranza, Superintendent, Canyon de Chelly National 
Monument, P.O. Box 588, Chinle, AZ 86503, telephone (928) 674-5500 ext. 
224, 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 under 
the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park 
Service, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, AZ. The human 
remains were removed from a site in Apache County, AZ.
    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 
Superintendent, Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Canyon de 
Chelly National Monument professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Fort McDowell Yavapai 
Nation, Arizona; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kaibab Band of Paiute 
Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona; Mescalero Apache 
Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, 
New Mexico & Utah; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; San Carlos 
Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Southern Ute 
Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Mountain 
Ute Tribe (previously listed as the Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute 
Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah); White Mountain 
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; Yavapai-Apache 
Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of 
the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Consulted Tribes'').
    The following tribes were invited to consult but did not 
participate in the face-to-face consultation meeting: Kewa

[[Page 35052]]

Pueblo, New Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of Santo Domingo); 
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as the Pueblo of San 
Juan); Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo 
of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico (hereafter referred to 
as ``The Invited Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established in 1931 on lands 
that were then, and continue to be, held in trust by the United States 
for the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah.
    In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an unnamed site (NRM 020) just outside the boundaries 
of Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Apache County, AZ, by the 
Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) during excavations in advance of road 
construction along a North Rim spur road. This individual has been 
identified as Ned Bia. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The site is a historic Navajo habitation site that dates from the 
1930s to shortly after World War II. Like other historic Navajo sites 
located in close proximity, this habitation site was abandoned after 
the death of an individual. The occupant of the site, Ned Bia, who was 
interviewed by the MNA archeologist in 1972, indicated that the tooth 
was his. Direct lineal descendant, David Bia, who is the son of Ned 
Bia, confirmed their relationship and the site location.

Determinations Made by Canyon de Chelly National Monument

    Officials of Canyon de Chelly National Monument have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.6 (a) David Bia can trace his 
ancestry directly and without interruption to Ned Bia.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & 
Utah.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Lyn 
Carranza, Superintendent, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, P.O. Box 
588, Chinle, AZ 86503, telephone (928) 674-5500 ext. 224, email 
[email protected], by July 1, 2016. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the lineal descendant David Bia or the Navajo Nation, 
Arizona, New Mexico & Utah may proceed.
    Canyon de Chelly National Monument is responsible for notifying 
David Bia, The Consulted Tribes, and The Invited Tribes that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: May 20, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-12750 Filed 5-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P