80 FR 62096 - Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 199 (October 15, 2015)

The University of Michigan has completed an inventory of human remains, 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 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 should submit a written request to the University of Michigan. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62096-62097]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26286]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-19370; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan has completed an inventory of human 
remains, 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 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 should submit a 
written request to the University of Michigan. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 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 should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the University of 
Michigan at the address in this notice by November 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of 
Michigan Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 S. Thompson 
Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, 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 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human 
remains were removed from Clinton County, MI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative 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. 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 
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Bay 
Mills Indian Community, Michigan; 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, Michigan; Saginaw 
Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of 
Chippewa Indians, Michigan.
    Additional requests for consultation were sent to the Bad River 
Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River 
Reservation, Wisconsin; Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota; Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota; 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; Leech Lake Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; 
Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of 
Wisconsin;

[[Page 62097]]

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota; and the White 
Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    Hereafter, all tribes listed in this section are referred to as 
``The Invited and Consulted Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In April 1951, human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from the Steinbower site (20CL04) in Clinton 
County, MI. Workers unearthed human remains at the site while 
conducting gravel removal operations. They contacted the Clinton County 
Sherriff who collected the human remains and donated them to the UMMAA 
on April 24, 1951. The human remains are from 1 juvenile, 1 young 
adult, and 2 adults. The human remains are dated to the Glacial Kame 
Period, or Late Archaic to Early Woodland Periods (1000-500 B.C.), 
based on a conch shell collected from the site, although the shell was 
not donated to the UMMAA. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

    Officials of the University of Michigan 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, archeological context, and accession documentation.
     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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains 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 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 were removed 
is the aboriginal land of The Invited and Consulted Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Invited and Consulted 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 should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, 
University of Michigan Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 
S. Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, 
email [email protected], by November 16, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Invited and Consulted Tribes may proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The Invited 
and Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 22, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-26286 Filed 10-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P