[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 120 (Friday, June 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33731-33732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13512]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032107; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Appalachian State University, 
Boone, NC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Appalachian State University 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request to Appalachian 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 
Appalachian State University at the address in this notice by July 26, 
2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Alice Wright, Associate Professor, 
Appalachian State University, Department of Anthropology, ASU Box 
32016, 322 Anne Belk Hall, Boone, NC 28608, telephone (828) 262-6384, 
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 Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. The human 
remains were removed from an unknown location in Mississippi.
    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 Appalachian 
State University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; The Chickasaw 
Nation; and The Choctaw

[[Page 33732]]

Nation of Oklahoma (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime before 1995, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual was removed from the State of Mississippi. In the late 
1990s, a student at Appalachian State University acquired the human 
remains through his landlord and donated them to the University. The 
landlord (now deceased) stated that he ``got it in Mississippi.'' No 
further information about these human remains is available. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by Appalachian State University

    Officials of Appalachian State University 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 Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 
[previously listed as Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas]; Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Miami Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Quapaw Nation 
[previously listed as The Quapaw Tribe of Indians]; The Chickasaw 
Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; 
and The Osage Nation [previously listed as Osage Tribe] (hereafter 
referred to as ``The Tribes'').

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 Dr. Alice 
Wright, Associate Professor, Appalachian State University, Department 
of Anthropology, ASU Box 32016, 322 Anne Belk Hall, Boone, NC 28608, 
telephone (828) 262-6384, email [email protected], by July 26, 
2021. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    Appalachian State University is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 9, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-13512 Filed 6-24-21; 8:45 am]
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