[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29928-29929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13737]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23400; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Massachusetts 
Amherst, Department of Anthropology, Amherst, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of 
Anthropology, has completed an inventory of human remains, 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 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 the Department of Anthropology at 
the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 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 the 
address in this notice by July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Sonya Atalay, Chair, Repatriation Committee, Department 
of Anthropology, 217 Machmer Hall, University of Massachusetts, 240 
Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, telephone (413) 545-2702, 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of 
Anthropology. The human remains were removed from an unknown location 
in East Springfield, NY.
    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. 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 
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology, 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Haudenosaunee Standing Committee on Burial Rights and Regulations, and 
the following federally-recognized tribes: Cayuga Nation; Oneida 
Nation; Oneida Nation of New York; Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis Mohawk 
Tribe (previously listed as the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New 
York); Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation 
of New York); Seneca-Cayuga Nation (previously listed as the Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma); Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed 
as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York); and Tuscarora 
Nation (hereinafter known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy).

History and Description of the Human Remains

    In the 1950s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the farm of Harriet R. and Raymond Rogers 
in East Springfield, Otsego County, NY. After keeping the human remains 
several years, a farmer transferred possession to an artist who visited 
the farm. That artist later learned about NAGPRA and transferred the 
human remains to the University of Massachusetts, Department of 
Anthropology. The date of this transfer was not recorded. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Also in the possession of the University of Massachusetts, 
Department of Anthropology are human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual from an unknown provenience, represented by the vault 
portion of the cranium (top, sides and back of the head). The following 
identification is written on the back of the cranium in black ink: 
``Prehistoric Iriquois [sic] UU 21524/2.'' No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

[[Page 29929]]

    No further contextual information accompanies either set of human 
remains. Both have remained in the possession of the University of 
Massachusetts since legal control was established.

Determinations Made by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, 
Department of Anthropology

    Officials of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of 
Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

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 
formal written request with information in support of the claim to Dr. 
Sonya Atalay, Chair, Repatriation Committee, Department of 
Anthropology, 217 Machmer Hall, University of Massachusetts, 240 Hicks 
Way, Amherst, MA 01003, telephone (413) 545-2702, email 
[email protected] by July 31, 2017. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy may proceed.
    The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of 
Anthropology, is responsible for notifying the Haudenosaunee Standing 
Committee on Burial Rights and Regulations and the member nations of 
the Haudenosaunee Confederacy that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 12, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
National NAGPRA Program Manager.
[FR Doc. 2017-13737 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
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