[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 41 (Friday, March 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7114-7115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03580]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027268; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary object, 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 these human remains and associated funerary object should 
submit a written request to the University of Michigan. If no 
additional requesters come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary object 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 to these human remains and associated funerary 
object should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to the University of Michigan at the address in this notice 
by April 1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of 
Michigan, Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 South Thompson 
Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, 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 object under the control of the University of 
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human remains and associated funerary 
object were removed from the Shomish Gravel Pit site (20CL31) in 
Clinton County, MI.
    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 
object. 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 
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 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 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;

[[Page 7115]]

Mille Lacs Band; White Earth Band); Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of 
Michigan; and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan, 
hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes.''
    Requests for consultation were also sent to the Bad River Band of 
the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River 
Reservation, Wisconsin; 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; 
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; 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 Invited 
Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In October 1951, human remains representing, at minimum, seven 
individuals were removed from the Shomish Gravel Pit site (20CL31) in 
Clinton County, MI. The human remains and a conch shell mask were found 
during gravel operations, and were donated to the UMMAA by the local 
sheriff on October 31, 1951. The seven individuals include one child, 
three-and-a-half to seven years old, with possible congenital 
treponema; one child, two to four years old, with possible congenital 
treponema; one child, six to 10 years old; one infant one to two years 
old, with possible congenital treponema; two older adults, both of whom 
had osteoarthritis; and one neonate, with a possible underlying 
infection. The burials have been dated to the late pre-contact era 
(A.D. 1400 to 1600), based on the associated funerary object. No known 
individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is an 
inverted pear-shaped conch shell mask with two drilled holes for eyes 
and a possible stylized nose, and is believed to have been placed with 
one of the children buried at the site.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

    Officials of the University of Michigan have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on cranial morphology, dental 
traits, accession documentation, and archeological context.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of seven 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 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 and associated funerary object were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of 
Michigan.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary object were removed is the aboriginal land of The 
Consulted Tribes and The Invited Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to The Consulted 
Tribes and The Invited 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 object should submit a 
written request with information in support of this request to Dr. Ben 
Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan, Office of 
Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 South Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, 
MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, email [email protected], 
before April 1, 2019. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary object to The Consulted Tribes and The Invited Tribes may 
proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The 
Consulted Tribes and The Invited Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: February 1, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-03580 Filed 2-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P