[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12204-12205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04256]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031481; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, 
Topeka, KS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Kansas State Historical Society 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 Kansas State 
Historical Society. 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 
Kansas State Historical Society at the address in this notice by April 
1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Robert J. Hoard, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 
6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, telephone (785) 272-8681 Ext. 269, 
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 Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS. The 
human remains were removed from St. Francis, Cheyenne County, KS.
    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 Kansas 
State Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma 
[previously listed as Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma]; Kaw Nation, 
Oklahoma; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian 
Reservation, Montana; and The Osage Nation [previously listed as Osage 
Tribe] (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    On June 30, 2014, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from 114 South Scott Street, St. Francis, 
Cheyenne County, KS. The human remains were found in a home-made coffin 
located in a building that had recently been purchased by an 
individual. Cheyenne County Kansas Sheriff Cody Beeson was notified of 
the discovery, whereupon he, Undersheriff Rodriquez, KBI agent Mark 
Kendrick, Deputy Coroner Dr. Mary Beth Miller, and Melvin Coffer 
visited the site. Coffer suspected that the skeletal remains had been 
used in ceremonies performed by the Oddfellows. Sheriff Cody Beeson 
took possession of the human remains and contacted Robert J. Hoard, 
Kansas State Archeologist. At Hoard's request, on June 30, 2014, 
Sheriff Cody transferred the human remains to Hoard. They arrived at 
the Kansas State Historical Society on July 17, 2014. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains include the major parts of a human skeleton in 
fair condition, but evidence of weathering suggests the remains had 
been exposed to the open for an unknown period of time. Osteological 
analysis by Michael Finnegan, Ph.D., D-ABFA indicates the remains 
belong to a female, 35-40 years of age, and morphological attributes of 
the cranium and femur indicate Native American ancestry. Because of the 
weathering of the elements, it is believed that the human remains were

[[Page 12205]]

originally left to decompose outside, possibly on a scaffold, or were 
buried and subsequently eroded out of the burial site, or were 
excavated. Officials of the Kansas State Historical Society have 
determined that this individual belonged to one of the Tribal Nations 
that are historically known to have been in present-day Cheyenne 
County, Kansas.

Determinations Made by the Kansas State Historical Society

    Officials of the Kansas State Historical Society 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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma 
[previously listed as Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma].

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 Robert J. 
Hoard, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 
66615-1099, telephone (785) 272-8681 Ext. 269, email 
[email protected], by April 1, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma [previously 
listed as Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma] may proceed.
    The Kansas State Historical Society is responsible for notifying 
The Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 5, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-04256 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
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