[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 52537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22589]



[[Page 52537]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0026580; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Carter County Museum, Ekalaka, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Carter County Museum 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 Carter County Museum. 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 
Carter County Museum at the address in this notice by November 16, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Sabre Moore, Carter County Museum, 306 North Main Street, 
Ekalaka, MT 59324, telephone (406) 775-6886, 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 Carter County Museum, Ekalaka, MT. The human remains 
were removed from an unknown site in the Mohawk Mountains, 80 miles 
southwest of Yuma, AZ.
    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 Carter 
County Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & 
Arizona.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1947, human remains--a skull--representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Mohawk Mountains, Yuma County, AZ, by 
Walter H. Peck, Carter County Museum Director. Peck's notes indicate 
that the skull (catalog number CCM V-43-2-5089) was found amongst 
numerous other skulls between the 50 and 60-foot level of a mineshaft 
located at the foot of a mountain, near a trail established by Spanish 
explorers. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Based on Peck's notes, this individual was a Yuma slave forced to 
work in the mine by the Spanish. The Spanish were first reported to be 
mining silver in the region in 1736, but were hampered by Apache 
guerillas. In 1853, the United States purchased the region from Spain. 
The present day descendants of the Yuma people are the Quechan Tribe of 
the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona.

Determinations Made by the Carter County Museum

    Officials of the Carter County Museum 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(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian 
Reservation, California & Arizona.

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 
written request with information in support of the request to Sabre 
Moore, Carter County Museum, 306 North Main Street, Ekalaka, MT 59324, 
telephone (406) 775-6886, email [email protected], by 
November 16, 2018. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Quechan 
Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona may 
proceed.
    The Carter County Museum is responsible for notifying the Quechan 
Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California & Arizona that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 1, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-22589 Filed 10-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P