[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 69317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25131]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034886; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Vassar College 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 Vassar College. 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 Vassar 
College at the address in this notice by December 19, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Daly, Vassar College, 124 
Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, telephone (845) 437-5310, 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 Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. The human remains were 
removed from an unknown geographic location.
    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 by Vassar 
College professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, 
Arizona and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt 
River Reservation, Arizona.
    An invitation to consult was extended to the Ak-Chin Indian 
Community (previously listed as Ak Chin Indian Community of the 
Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 
Tohono O'Odham Nation of Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.
    Hereafter, all the Indian Tribes listed in this section are 
referred to as ``The Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, five 
individuals were removed from an unknown geographic location. During 
the 1920s, the human remains (Mandible 1; Mandible 2; Mandible 5; 
Mandible 7) were acquired by Vassar College's Natural History and 
Social Museums. After the museums dissolved in the 1960s, the human 
remains were acquired by the Anthropology and Biology departments. 
Human remains located in the Biology and Anthropology Department 
teaching collections were examined for visual and statistical markers 
of Native American affinities, with results reported on December 21, 
2020. The results from the assessments identified these individuals 
with ``Hohokam'' affinity. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by Vassar College

    Officials of Vassar College have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of five 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 Brian 
Daly, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, 
telephone (845) 437-5310, email [email protected], by December 19, 
2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    Vassar College is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: November 9, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-25131 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P