[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 46015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17565]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032429; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC and University of Montana, 
Missoula, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 
(BIA), assisted by the University of Montana, 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 who wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request to the BIA through 
the University of Montana. 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 who wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the BIA 
through the University of Montana at the address in this notice by 
September 16, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kelly Dixon, University of 
Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, telephone (406) 243-2693, 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Washington, DC and in the physical custody of the University 
of Montana, Missoula, MT. The human remains were removed from the Crow 
Reservation, Big Horn County, MT.
    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 BIA by the University of Montana professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Crow Tribe of Montana.

History and Description of the Remains

    Around 1946, human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from a ``battlefield in Crow Country'' in Big 
Horn County, MT, by Albert H. Sletton, who donated them to the 
University of Montana. The human remains belong to four adult males. 
Two individuals are represented by mandibles (UMACF #I6916 and 
#I16918), a third individual is represented by a skull (cranium and 
mandible; UMACF #I6919), and a fourth individual is represented by a 
partial cranium showing sharp force perimortem trauma (UMACF #I6916). 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    The area of Big Horn County and the Crow Reservation includes 
several battlefields--including the Battle of the Little Big Horn and 
Rosebud Battlefield--where human remains exist.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and University of Montana

    Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and the University of Montana have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals 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 Crow Tribe of Montana.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe not 
identified in this notice who wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Kelly Dixon, University of Montana, 
Missoula, MT 59812, telephone (406) 243-2693, email 
[email protected], by September 16, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Crow Tribe of Montana may proceed.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
assisted by the University of Montana, is responsible for notifying the 
Crow Tribe of Montana that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 4, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-17565 Filed 8-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P