[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17431-17432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08174]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025286; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Wisconsin Historical Society, 
Madison, WI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Wisconsin Historical Society has completed an inventory of 
human remains, 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 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 
should submit a written request to the Wisconsin Historical Society. If 
no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains 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 should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the Wisconsin 
Historical Society at the address in this notice by May 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Jennifer Kolb, Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State 
Street, Madison, WI 53706, telephone (608) 264-6434, 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 Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI. The human 
remains were removed from the Pleasant Plain Group site, Barron County, 
and the Mertig Site, Sawyer County, WI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 17432]]

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. 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 
Wisconsin Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; 
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; 
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; and Upper Sioux Community, 
Minnesota.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1947, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Pleasant Plain Group (47-BN-0025) in Barron 
County, WI. The site consists of 27 mounds, including 15 conical 
mounds, 12 oval or linear mounds, and one ``catfish'' or ``tadpole'' 
mound. The human remains representing one adult male and one possible 
adult male were found in a single sub-floor burial pit in the center of 
Mound 2 by Robert R. Jones and students of the University of Wisconsin 
Extension Center. It is not clear what type of mound Mound 2 was. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from the Mertig Site (47-SY-0042) in Sawyer 
County, WI. Landowner Fred Mertig found partially cremated human 
remains while leveling the mounds. He also recovered two copper beads, 
one of which enclosed a piece of buckskin. In 1956, Mertig sent the 
human remains and copper beads to the Wisconsin Historical Society for 
analysis. The recovery location of the copper beads is unknown and 
there is a lack of information to indicate they were associated 
funerary objects. Skeletal analysis determined the human remains 
represent one adult and one child, both of indeterminate sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

Determinations Made by the Wisconsin Historical Society

    Officials of the Wisconsin Historical Society have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on Wisconsin Historical 
Society records, burial location, oral histories, and skeletal 
analysis.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 any present-day Indian Tribe.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe 
of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Bay Mills 
Indian Community, Michigan; Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's 
Reservation, Montana (previously listed as the 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 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; Lac Vieux Desert Band of 
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Michigan; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota (Six component reservations: Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake); 
Fond du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band; Leech Lake Band; Mille Lacs Band; 
White Earth Band); Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of 
Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; Saginaw 
Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa 
Indians, Michigan; Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 
Indians of North Dakota (hereafter referred to as ``The Aboriginal Land 
Tribes'').
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Aboriginal Land 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 should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to Jennifer Kolb, Wisconsin Historical 
Society, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706, telephone (608) 264-6434, 
email [email protected], by May 21, 2018. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to The Aboriginal Land Tribes may proceed.
    The Wisconsin Historical Society is responsible for notifying The 
Aboriginal Land Tribes, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; 
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; and 
Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 22, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-08174 Filed 4-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P