82 FR 29922 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 125 (June 30, 2017)

The Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, 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 Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming. 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 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29922-29923]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13744]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23397; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Human Remains Repository, 
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, 
University of Wyoming, 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 Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming. 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 Human Remains 
Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, at the 
address in this notice by July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Rick L. Weathermon, Curator, Human Remains Repository, 
Department 3431, Anthropology, 1000 East University Avenue, University 
of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, telephone (307) 314-2035, 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 Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. The human remains 
were removed from an unknown location in Hamilton County, TX.
    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 Human 
Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Tonkawa 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. The following Indian Tribes were invited 
to consult but did not participate in consultation: Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New 
Mexico; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache

[[Page 29923]]

Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; San Carlos Apache Tribe 
of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona, 
and White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, 
Arizona.

History and Description of the Remains

    At some time in the 1920s, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual were removed from an unknown location in Hamilton 
County, TX. The fragmentary human remains were given to the Anna Miller 
Museum in Newcastle, WY, in 1969 and then transferred to the University 
of Wyoming Anthropology Department Human Remains Repository (Record 
HR202) in 1993. The human remains represent a single adult male. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At the time of the excavation and removal of these human remains, 
the land from which the human remains were removed was not the tribal 
land of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. In January of 
2017, the Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, 
University of Wyoming, initiated consultation with all Indian tribes 
who are recognized as aboriginal to the area from which these Native 
American human remains were removed. These tribes are the Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma, and the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma. None of these 
Indian tribes responded to the invitation nor agreed to accept control 
of the human remains. In May of 2017, the Human Remains Repository, 
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, agreed to transfer 
control of the human remains to the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of 
Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by the Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming

    Officials of the Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming, have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are reasonably believed to be Native American based on 
museum notes and characteristic features of the cranial fragments.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual 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.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(2)(i), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

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. Rick L. Weathermon, Curator, Human 
Remains Repository, Department 3431, Anthropology, 1000 East University 
Avenue, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, telephone (307) 314-
2035, email [email protected], by July 31, 2017. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, 
University of Wyoming, is responsible for notifying the Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New 
Mexico; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the 
Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San 
Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; 
Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; and White Mountain Apache Tribe of the 
Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 12, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-13744 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P