[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49608-49609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17292]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034331; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
Art Theft Program, Washington, DC

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, 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 associated funerary objects 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 the FBI. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the FBI at the address in this notice by 
September 12, 2022.

[[Page 49609]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI 
Headquarters, Attn: Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Randolph J. Deaton 
IV, Art Theft Program, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20535, telephone (202) 324-5525, 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, Washington, DC. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from various locations throughout South 
Dakota.
    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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by FBI 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, 
Montana; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, 
South Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, 
South Dakota; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Oglala 
Sioux Tribe (previously listed as Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge 
Reservation, South Dakota); Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation, South Dakota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse 
Reservation, South Dakota; Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; Standing 
Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; Three Affiliated Tribes of 
the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota; and the Yankton Sioux 
Tribe of South Dakota (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Over the course of several years beginning in the early 1960s, 
human remains representing, at minimum, 274 individuals were removed 
from various locations throughout South Dakota. Following their 
removal, the human remains were transported to Indiana, where they 
remained part of a private collection. In April of 2014, the human 
remains were seized by the FBI as part of a criminal investigation. No 
known individuals were identified. The 84 associated funerary objects 
are six projectile points, 54 Pottery sherds, five beads, 17 metal 
jewelry pieces, and two unidentified metal objects.
    Based upon the physical evidence obtained through criminal 
investigation, osteological analysis, and tribal consultation, the FBI 
has determined that these human remains are Native American and that a 
relationship of shared group identity can be reasonably traced between 
the human remains and The Tribes. During a tribal consultation meeting 
held between December 17-19, 2021, The Tribes reached consensus that 
the Oglala Sioux Tribe (previously listed as Oglala Sioux Tribe of the 
Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota) would request the repatriation of 
these ancestral human remains and associated funerary objects on behalf 
of The Tribes, all of whom consider South Dakota their ancestral 
homeland.

Determinations Made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

    Officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 274 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 84 objects described 
in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the 
death rite or ceremony.
     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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI 
Headquarters, Attn: Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Randolph J. Deaton 
IV, Art Theft Program, 935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20535, telephone (202) 324-5525, email [email protected], by 
September 12, 2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Federal Bureau of Investigation is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 3, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-17292 Filed 8-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P