[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62886-62888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22515]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034713; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Michigan State Historic 
Preservation Office, Lansing, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (Michigan 
SHPO) 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 no 
cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations. 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 Michigan SHPO. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 Michigan SHPO at the address in this notice by 
November 16, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Hambacher, Staff 
Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office, Michigan Economic 
Development Corporation, 300 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48913, 
telephone (517) 243-9513, 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 Michigan State 
Historic Preservation Office, Lansing, MI. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Bay and Saginaw Counties, 
MI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 62887]]

responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 43 CFR 
10.11(d). 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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by the Michigan SHPO professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community, 
Michigan; Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana 
(previously listed as Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's 
Reservation, Montana); Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa 
Indians, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux 
Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Michigan; Little Shell 
Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band); Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; 
and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan. In 
addition, the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa 
Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Kickapoo Traditional 
Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation 
in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake 
Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake 
Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of 
Wisconsin; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Bois Forte Band (Nett 
Lake); Fond du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band; Leech Lake Band; White 
Earth Band); Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of 
Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; Sac & Fox 
Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma; 
Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Sokaogon Chippewa 
Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; and the 
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota were invited 
to consult but did not participate. Hereafter, all Indian Tribes in 
this section are referred to as ``The Consulted and Invited Tribes.''

History and Description of the Human Remains

    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Kerr #3 site (20BY6) in Bay County, 
MI. The human remains and associated funerary objects were surface 
collected from a beach north of the Kawkawlin River. They were noted as 
fragmentary, weathered, and sun-bleached. The human remains collected 
from the site are one adult, indeterminate sex, and date to the Early 
Late Woodland Period (A.D. 500-1100) based on ceramic sherds collected 
on the same beach as the human remains. No known individual was 
identified. The two associated funerary objects are two lots of ceramic 
sherds.
    In 1968, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from the Bugai site (20SA215) in Saginaw County, MI. 
Construction workers encountered human remains while working along 
Insterstate-75 in Bridgeport Township on land owned by the State of 
Michigan. They contacted the Michigan State Police to investigate the 
site. On July 31, 1968, State Highway Department employees excavated 
three burials and multiple objects. The burials were surrounded by 
areas containing red ochre. The human remains first were taken to the 
State Police crime lab for further examination. After the burials were 
determined to be archeological, a detective assigned to the case 
contacted a local amateur archeologist to take possession of the human 
remains and objects. On August 14, 1968, he donated the collections to 
the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology 
(UMMAA). The human remains collected from the site include two adults, 
both 18-24 years old and possibly female; and one adult, 45+ years old, 
male. One lot of DNA extractions, taken from human remains in this site 
collection between 1996 and 2006, will also be included in this 
transfer. The human remains date to the Early Late Woodland Period 
(A.D. 500-1100). No known individuals were identified. The 22 
associated funerary objects are one lot of stone celt and possible 
stone celt fragment; one lot of retouched lithic flake; one lot of 
retouched lithic flake; one lot of lithic flakes; one lot of Jack's 
Reef projectile point fragment; one lot of earthenware body sherds; one 
lot of earthenware sherds; one lot of stone celt fragment; one lot of 
unworked turtle shell fragments and unworked animal long bone fragment; 
one lot of perforated turtle plastron; one lot of sandstone abraders; 
one lot of lithic biface preforms and lithic flake; one lot of possible 
lithic scraper and lithic flake; one lot of antler billets; one lot of 
utilized antler tine fragment; one lot of modified antler fragment; one 
lot of antler fragment; one lot of carved antler fragment; one lot of 
stone blank or preform; one lot soil sample; one lot of burned wood; 
and one lot of fire-cracked rock.

Determinations Made by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office

    Officials of the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on cranial morphology, dental 
traits, accession documentation, and archeological context.
     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(3)(A), the 24 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of 
Michigan.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of The 
Consulted and Invited Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to The Consulted 
and Invited Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 Michael 
Hambacher, Staff Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office, 
Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 300 N. Washington Square, 
Lansing, MI 48913, telephone (517) 243-9513, email 
[email protected], by

[[Page 62888]]

November 16, 2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Consulted and Invited Tribes may proceed.
    The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for 
notifying The Consulted and Invited Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: October 5, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-22515 Filed 10-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P