[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17433-17435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08176]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-25289; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Wisconsin 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 no cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects 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 and 
associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the 
Wisconsin Historical Society. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Indian Tribes or Native

[[Page 17434]]

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 and associated funerary 
objects 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Wisconsin 
Historical Society, Madison, WI. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from multiple sites in Crawford County, 
WI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative 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 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 
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 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Rock Shelter #4 (47-CR-0191) in Crawford County, WI. 
The site was first documented in 1937, by Leland Cooper who was 
associated with the Wisconsin Historical Society at the time. A 
Wisconsin Historical Society card catalog lists 97 artifacts recovered 
as a ``general sample from 4-10 inches deep in floor of rockshelter'' 
were collected by Cooper in 1937 and accessioned by the Wisconsin 
Historical Society in 1978. Later analysis of the collection revealed 
human remains that represent one individual of indeterminate age and 
sex. There is no evidence to suggest the artifacts collected and 
accessioned at the same time are funerary objects associated with the 
human remains. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1990, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Copper Creek Mound Group (47-CR-0484) in Crawford 
County, WI. A local informant contacted the Wisconsin Burial Site 
Preservation Office (BSPO) to report that the site had recently been 
looted, and representatives of the BPSO visited the site. They 
conducted a pedestrian survey of the mounds and collected a small group 
of human remains that were visible on the surface. The few human 
remains collected are very fragmentary and represent one individual of 
indeterminate age and sex. No associated funerary objects were found. 
No known individuals were identified.
    In 1993, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Highway 35 (47-CR-0731) in Crawford County, WI. A 
cranium was found resting next to a cement retaining wall near the 
property of Thomas and Alleine La Chine near Prairie du Chien. The La 
Chines contacted the Crawford County Sheriff's Department upon their 
discovery, and the police subsequently contacted the Wisconsin Burial 
Sites Preservation Office (BSPO). A representative from the BPSO 
investigated the site but did not locate any other human remains or 
artifacts. The human remains were transferred from the Crawford County 
Sheriff's Department to the Wisconsin Historical Society. The cranium 
was later determined to be from an adult female with attributes of 
mixed European-American and Native American ancestry. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1976, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from McDonald Graves (47-CR-0166) in Crawford County, WI. 
The human remains were discovered during a sewer construction project 
in an alley located in the city of Prairie du Chien. Homeowners 
initially contacted the Prairie du Chien Police Department, who 
immediately contacted the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). 
Representatives from the WHS visited the site within days and conducted 
an excavation in conjunction with the Prairie du Chien Police of what 
appeared to be profiles of two coffins. The Prairie du Chien Police 
Department originally took custody of the human remains and artifacts, 
but transferred them to the WHS in 1976. Skeletal analysis later 
determined the human remains represent an adult male and an adult 
female, both of Native American ancestry. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a group of 20 coffin 
nails and fragments of wood.
    In 1960, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Miller Site (47-CR-0001) in Crawford County, WI. 
The Miller Site was investigated in 1960 and 1961 by the Wisconsin 
Historical Society's Highway Archaeology Program under a cooperative 
agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. During the 
1960 excavations, the remains of a single adult male were excavated 
from a burial pit located in the southern portion of the investigated 
area. 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 Waterfront Site (47-CR-0436) in 
Crawford County, WI. Local resident J.P. Albee discovered human remains 
representing two probable male individuals on St. Feriole Island along 
the East Channel of the Mississippi River in the city of Prairie du 
Chien. Mr. Albee donated the human remains to the Wisconsin Historical 
Society in 1912. 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, archeological context, 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 eight individuals 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and

[[Page 17435]]

associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and 
the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects 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; Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; 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); Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma; 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; Turtle 
Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota; and the Winnebago 
Tribe of Nebraska (hereafter referred to as ``The Aboriginal Land 
Tribes'').
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects to The Aboriginal 
Land Tribes may proceed.
    The Wisconsin Historical Society is responsible for notifying The 
Aboriginal Land Tribes; Forest County Potawatomi Community, 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. 2018-08176 Filed 4-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P