[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 120 (Friday, June 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 33733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13514]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032110; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural 
Center, North Fork, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center 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 Sierra Mono 
Museum and Cultural Center. 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 
Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center at the address in this notice by 
July 26, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina McDonald, President of the 
Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center, 33103 Road 228 North Fork, CA 
93643, telephone (559) 877-2115, 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 Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center, North Fork, 
CA. The human remains were removed from the area of the Kaw River in 
northeastern Kansas.
    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 on behalf of 
the Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center by Dr. Chelsey Juarez of 
California State University Fresno, in consultation with 
representatives of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Kaw Nation, 
Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in 
Kansas; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation [previously listed as Prairie 
Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas]; and the Sac & Fox Nation of 
Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime prior to 1980, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the area of the Kaw River in northeastern 
Kansas. In 2019, while moving their collections, the Sierra Mono Museum 
and Cultural Center discovered these human remains in a box associated 
with the Tettleton Wildlife Collection, which the museum had acquired 
in 1982. The box also contained an image of the human remains and the 
words ``Kaw River'' written on the back of the image.
    The human remains belong to an adult, possible female and probably 
24-30 years of age. The dental wear is consistent for an individual of 
Native American ancestry. The remains are probably early historic or 
prehistoric in date. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center

    Officials of the Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center 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 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 Christina 
McDonald, Sierra Mono Museum and Cultural Center, 33103 Road 228, North 
Fork, CA 93643, telephone (559) 877-2115, 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.
    The Sierra Mono Museum 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. 2021-13514 Filed 6-24-21; 8:45 am]
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