[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12826-12828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04402]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22847; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: St. Joseph Museums, Inc., St. 
Joseph, MO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The St. Joseph Museums, Inc., 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 a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written

[[Page 12827]]

request to the St. Joseph Museums, Inc. If no additional requestors 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the St. Joseph Museums, Inc., at the address 
in this notice by April 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Trevor Tutt, St. Joseph Museums, Inc., P.O. Box 8096, St. 
Joseph, MO 64508, telephone (816) 232-8471, 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 St. Joseph 
Museums, Inc. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from multiple counties in the state of Missouri.
    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 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 St. 
Joseph Museums, Inc., professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & 
Fox Nation, Oklahoma; and The Osage Nation (previously listed as the 
Osage Tribe).

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site 23AT21 near Rock Creek in Atchison County, MO. 
The site was discovered during the construction of Highway I-29. When 
the site was discovered, construction ceased and Missouri Highway 
geologist Bill Herndon and state archeologists Don Reynolds and Mike 
Fisher excavated the site. The human remains were donated to the St. 
Joseph Museums, Inc., and accessioned in 1992. No known individual was 
identified. There are, at minimum, 800 individual bone fragments from 
the site. The seven associated funerary objects are 1 chert; 4 
containers of charcoal and bone; and 2 bison horns.
    In 1961, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Big Ditch site (23AT15) in Atchison County, MO. 
The site was excavated and the human remains and funerary objects were 
donated to the St. Joseph Museums, Inc., at an unknown date. No known 
individual was identified. The 32 associated funerary objects are 22 
sherds; 3 projectile points; 1 bison horn; 1 scraper; 4 lime nodules; 
and 1 stone.
    From the early 1900s through 1989, human remains representing, at 
minimum, seven individuals were removed from The King Hill site (23BN1) 
in Buchanan County, MO. The King Hill site (23BN1) is identified as a 
burial mound within the city of St. Joseph, MO and is a frequent site 
of archeological investigation. No known individuals were identified. 
The 623 associated funerary objects are 1 piece of wood, 66 stones and 
rock samples, 16 shells, 1 screw, 5 scrapers, 28 rimsherds, 1 
projectile point, 457 potsherds, 2 ornaments, 3 concretion, 1 
hearthstone, 1 pot handle, 1 fossil, 29 chert, 3 coal, 1 bullet casing, 
4 brick and mortar, and 3 botanical remains.
    In 1982, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from Enterprise Hill in Buchanan County, MO. The human 
remains were donated to the St. Joseph Museums, Inc., at an unknown 
date by Whipple S. Newell. No known individuals were identified. The 42 
associated funerary objects are 1 sherd; 6 shells; 13 pendants; 1 
flake; 8 charcoal; and 13 beads.
    In 1981, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Benton High School in Buchanan County, MO. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1982, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site 23AN35 in Andrew County, MO and donated to the 
St. Joseph Museums, Inc., by Kenneth Lawrie at an unknown date. No 
known individual was identified. The 41 associated funerary objects are 
1 stone; 35 sherds; 4 pieces of clay; and 1 daub.
    In the mid to late 1900s, human remains representing at minimum, 
one individual were removed from site 23JA24 in Jackson County, MO by 
J. Mett Shippee. These human remains were donated to the St. Joseph 
Museums, Inc., in 1992. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    All the sites listed in this notice are affiliated with the Iowa, 
Omaha, Osage, Otoe-Missouria, and Sac & Fox tribes.

Determinations Made by the St. Joseph Museums, Inc.

    Officials of the St. Joseph Museums, Inc., have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 15 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 745 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), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and Iowa Tribe 
of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska; Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Nation 
of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma; Sac & 
Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; and The Osage Nation (previously 
listed as the Osage Tribe).

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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to: Trevor Tutt, St. Joseph Museums, Inc., P.O. 
Box 8096, St. Joseph, MO 64508, telephone (816) 232-8471, email 
[email protected], by April 6, 2017. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to Iowa Tribe of Kansas 
and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Otoe-
Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in 
Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the 
Mississippi in Iowa; and The Osage Nation (previously listed as the 
Osage Tribe) may proceed.
    The St. Joseph Museums, Inc., is responsible for notifying Iowa 
Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of

[[Page 12828]]

Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, 
Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & 
Fox Nation, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; and 
The Osage Nation (previously listed as the Osage Tribe) that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: February 1, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-04402 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P