[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65743-65744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27706]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027003; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Indiana State Museum and Historic 
Sites Corporation, State of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Corporation, State 
of Indiana (ISMHS) 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 ISMHS. 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 ISMHS at the 
address in this notice by January 22, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Michele Greenan, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites 
Corporation, 650 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46214, 
telephone (317) 473-0836, 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 ISMHS, Indianapolis, IN. The human remains were 
removed from the southern shore of Hamilton Lake, Steuben County, IN.
    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 staff at the 
University of Indianapolis, for the Indiana State Museum and Historic 
Sites Corporation. Following identification of the human remains as 
Native American, consultation proceeded with representatives of the 
Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Forest 
County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Hannahville Indian Community, 
Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of 
Michigan; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the 
Potawatomi, Michigan (previously listed as the Huron Potawatomi, Inc.); 
and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana, 
hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    On August 16, 2014, human remains were observed by members of the 
public at the shoreline of Hamilton Lake, Steuben County, Indiana. The 
local police department was immediately contacted, and transported the 
human remains to the Angola Fire Department for assessment by the 
coroner. Following notice of the discovery to Indiana Conservation 
officers, scuba divers from S.C.U.R.R.T. and the Steuben County 
Sherriff's Department were dispatched to search for additional human 
remains; none were found. Indiana Conservation officers, in turn, 
contacted forensic specialists from the University of Indianapolis, who 
advised that the remains were human and possibly Native American.
    As the human remains were not a part of a recent crime scene and 
following consultation with the Indiana Department of Historic 
Preservation and Archaeology, the human remains were transported by 
Indiana Conservation officers to the Indiana State Museum and Historic 
Sites (ISMHS) on August 18, 2014. Subsequently, staff from the 
University of Indianapolis further assessed the human remains, and 
identified them as Native American.
    The human remains were inventoried, and an osteological analysis 
was conducted by staff at the University of Indianapolis. They 
identified the human remains, which consist of a portion of the skull, 
as belonging to a single adult female. Given the incomplete nature of 
the skeletal material little information was possible with regard to 
pathology, cause of death, or specific age.
    Based on witness interviews conducted by Indiana Conservation 
officers, the human remains were found directly adjacent to areas 
frequented by recreational water implements and vehicles. As divers 
recovered no additional human remains, these human remains likely 
originated from a disturbed context elsewhere in the lake or adjacent 
areas. No other materials were recovered. No associated funerary 
objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites 
Corporation

    Officials of the ISMHS have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on analysis of the physical 
remains and the archeological context.
     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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary object 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 were removed is the aboriginal land of 
the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Forest County Potawatomi 
Community, Wisconsin; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Match-e-
be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Miami Tribe 
of Oklahoma; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan 
(previously listed as the Huron Potawatomi, Inc.); and the Pokagon Band 
of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana.
     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 
Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Forest County Potawatomi 
Community, Wisconsin; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Match-e-
be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Nottawaseppi 
Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan (previously listed as the

[[Page 65744]]

Huron Potawatomi, Inc.); and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, 
Michigan and Indiana.
     Other authoritative governmental sources identify the 
location where the human remains were removed as the aboriginal land of 
Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Forest 
County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Hannahville Indian Community, 
Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of 
Michigan; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the 
Potawatomi, Michigan (previously listed as the Huron Potawatomi, Inc.); 
and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The 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 Michele Greenan, Indiana State Museum and 
Historic Sites, 650 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46214, 
telephone (317) 473-0836, email [email protected], by January 
22, 2019. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed.
    The ISMHS is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: November 19, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-27706 Filed 12-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P