[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45653-45654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19540]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0026130; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RPI4.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of 
Anthropology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, and Museum of the 
Rockies at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology at the 
University of Idaho (``Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology'') 
and the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University (``Museum of 
the Rockies'') have completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and have determined that there 
is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated 
funerary objects and 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 Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology or the Museum of the Rockies. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to the Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology or 
Museum of the Rockies at the address in this notice by October 10, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Leah Evans-Janke, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of 
Anthropology, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 4023, Moscow, ID 83844-4023, 
telephone (208) 885-1771, email [email protected], or Lisa Verwys, 
Museum of the Rockies, 600 West Kagy Boulevard, Bozeman, MT 59717, 
telephone (406) 994-6622, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and

[[Page 45654]]

Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an 
inventory of human remains under the control of the Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology, Moscow, ID, and of associated funerary 
objects under the control of the Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, MT. 
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
Park County, MT.
    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 Alfred 
W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology and the Museum of the Rockies 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana; 
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation; 
Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of 
Montana; Nez Perce Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of 
Idaho); and Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian 
Reservation, Montana. The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana; Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's 
Reservation, Montana (previously listed as the Chippewa-Cree Indians of 
the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana); and Crow Tribe of Montana were 
invited to consult, but did not participate (hereafter referred to as 
``The Invited and Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1929, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from a small cave in Park County, MT, by a private 
citizen. On November 1, 1988, the private citizen donated the human 
remains and objects to the Museum of the Rockies. Later that month, 
Carolyn A. Purcell, Museum of the Rockies Registrar, transferred the 
human remains to Dr. Roderick Sprague, Director of the Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology. The associated funerary objects were 
retained by the Museum of the Rockies. The human remains consist of a 
right and left female innominate and a right male humerus. No known 
individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary objects are 
six flaked stone projectile points, one flaked stone drill or knife, 
and one digging stick of pine or spruce.
    At the time of the excavation and removal of these human remains 
and associated funerary objects, the land from which the remains and 
objects were removed was not the tribal land of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization. In January 2018, Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology and Museum of the Rockies invited the Crow 
Tribe of Montana, who is recognized as aboriginal to the area from 
which these Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed, to consult. The Crow Tribe of Montana did not 
participate in consultation and did not agree to accept control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects. In April 2018, the 
Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology and Museum of the Rockies 
agreed to transfer control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of 
Montana; Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead 
Reservation; Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap 
Reservation of Montana; Nez Perce Tribe (previously listed as the Nez 
Perce Tribe of Idaho); and Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern 
Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana.

Determinations Made by the Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology 
and the Museum of the Rockies

    Officials of the Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology and 
Museum of the Rockies have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on the associated funerary 
objects found with them.
     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(3)(A), the eight 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian Tribe.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(2)(i), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Blackfeet 
Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana; Confederated 
Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation; Fort Belknap 
Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana; Nez Perce 
Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana.

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 Leah 
Evans-Janke, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, 875 Perimeter 
Drive, MS 4023, Moscow, ID 83844-4023, telephone (208) 885-1771, email 
[email protected], or Lisa Verwys, Museum of the Rockies, 600 West Kagy 
Boulevard, Bozeman, MT 59717, telephone (406) 994-6622, email 
[email protected], by October 10, 2018. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to Blackfeet Tribe of the 
Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana; Confederated Salish and 
Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation; Fort Belknap Indian 
Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana; Nez Perce Tribe 
(previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana, 
may proceed.
    The Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology and Museum of the 
Rockies are responsible for notifying The Invited and Consulted Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 25, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-19540 Filed 9-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P