[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 147 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45922-45923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16496]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030485; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Michigan State University, East 
Lansing, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Michigan State University 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 a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and present-day Indian

[[Page 45923]]

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 Michigan 
State University. 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: 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 
Michigan State University at the address in this notice by August 31, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Judith Stoddart, Associate Provost for University 
Collections and Arts Initiatives, Michigan State University, 466 W 
Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824-1044, telephone (517) 432-2524, 
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 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. The 
human remains were removed from an unknown location most likely in the 
Four Corners Region of the southwestern United States, i.e., Arizona, 
Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah).
    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 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 Michigan 
State University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah.

History and Description of the Remains

    In July 2019, in response to a memorandum issued by Michigan State 
University to all departments, bioarcheologist Dr. Gabriel Wrobel 
reported a human cranium located in his laboratory. Dr. Wrobel 
indicated that the cranium was part of a donation made many years ago. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

Determinations Made by Michigan State University

    Officials of Michigan State University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on biological evidence and 
documentation.
     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 can be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah.

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 Judith 
Stoddart, Associate Provost for University Collections and Arts 
Initiatives, Michigan State University, 466 W. Circle Drive, East 
Lansing, MI 48824-1044, telephone (517) 432-2524, email 
[email protected], by August 31, 2020. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah may proceed.
    The Michigan State University is responsible for notifying the 
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: June 18, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-16496 Filed 7-29-20; 8:45 am]
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