[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 18395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06665]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033640; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Brooklyn Children's Museum, 
Brooklyn, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Brooklyn Children's Museum 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 Brooklyn 
Children's Museum. 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 
Brooklyn Children's Museum at the address in this notice by April 29, 
2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Mirand Calleri, Brooklyn 
Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213, telephone 
(718) 735-4400, 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 Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn, NY. The human 
remains were removed from ``Southern NY,'' most likely from within 
Bronx County, NY.
    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. 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 Brooklyn 
Children's Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of 
Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin (hereafter 
referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In the early-to-mid 20th century, human remains representing, at 
minimum, three individuals were removed from an unknown location in the 
Bronx, NY. The three individuals, represented by three skulls, were 
donated to the Museum by Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Brooklyn Children's Museum has made the geographic determination 
that these human remains were removed from Bronx County based on the 
``Southern New York'' label in the original accessioning records, as 
well as from the extensive history of Kazimiroff's excavations within 
New York City limits, particularly in Bronx County, NY. Starting in the 
mid-1900s, records show that he excavated over 45,000 objects in New 
York City, the vast majority of which he claimed were Native American. 
Kazimiroff was the official Bronx County historian from 1953 to 1980, 
as well as President of Kings Bridge Historical Society and the founder 
of the Bronx Historical Society. In his writings, he documents an 
``Algonquin village'' burial ground that he excavated in the Bronx. He 
also writes of his extensive excavations in the Bronx where the New 
York Botanical Gardens are today located. Kazimiroff's presence in 
Bronx County was so great that, from 1980 to 2011, the northern 
extension of Southern Boulevard between East Fordham Road and Allerton 
Avenue was named ``Dr. Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard.'' To this day, he 
is still associated with Bronx County; Pelham Bay Park contains the 
``Kazimiroff Nature Trail.''

Determinations Made by the Brooklyn Children's Museum

    Officials of the Brooklyn Children's Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three 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 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 Kate 
Mirand Calleri, Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, 
Brooklyn, NY 11213, telephone (718) 735-4400, email 
[email protected], by April 29, 2022. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Brooklyn Children Museum is responsible for notifying The 
Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 23, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-06665 Filed 3-29-22; 8:45 am]
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