[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20627-20628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08867]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23040; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, 
Topeka, KS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Kansas State Historical Society 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 request 
to the Kansas State Historical Society. 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 Kansas State Historical Society at the 
address in this notice by June 2, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert J. Hoard, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 
SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, telephone 785-272-8681, extension 
269, 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 Kansas State 
Historical Society, Topeka, KS. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from a creek bank in Cherokee County, KS.
    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 Kansas 
State Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Seneca 
Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New York); 
The Osage Nation (previously listed as the Osage Tribe), The Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians; Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed as the 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York); Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma; and Wyandotte 
Nation.

History and Description of the Remains

    On October 3, 2015, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Cherokee County, KS. Four 15 year-old boys 
were camping in rural Cherokee County, KS, when they discovered the 
remains of a human skull near a creek bank on a tributary of Shoal 
Creek. They notified the Cherokee County Attorney, Nathan Coleman, who 
then contacted the Cherokee County Sheriff, David Groves. Sheriff 
Groves contacted forensic anthropologist Dr. Michael Finnegan, who 
examined the remains and determined them to be, more likely than not, 
from an American Indian male, approximately 30-40 years old. The human 
remains were determined to be approximately 500 years old. The human 
remains were subsequently sent to the Office of the State 
Archaeologist, Kansas Historical Society, on December 5, 2016. No known 
individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is an 
animal metatarsal.
    Determination of cultural affiliation is based on historic maps of 
the territories of Kansas and Nebraska available at University of 
Kansas Libraries and the Kansas Historical Society, early historical 
accounts, and archeological evidence of the tribes known to be 
associated with the area.

Determinations Made by the Kansas State Historical Society

    Officials of the Kansas State Historical Society 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 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object 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), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects 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 Dr. Robert J. Hoard, Kansas State Historical 
Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, telephone 785-272-
8681, extension 269, email [email protected], by June 2, 2017. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The 
Osage Nation (previously listed as the Osage Tribe) may proceed.
    The Kansas State Historical Society is responsible for notifying 
the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Seneca Nation of Indians 
(previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New York); The Osage Nation 
(previously listed as the Osage Tribe), The Quapaw Tribe of Indians; 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed as the Tonawanda Band of 
Seneca Indians of New York); Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, 
Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma; and

[[Page 20628]]

Wyandotte Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 7, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-08867 Filed 5-2-17; 8:45 am]
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