83 FR 19107 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 84 (May 1, 2018)

The Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS) 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 NSHS. 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.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19107-19108]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09175]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025406; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Nebraska State Historical 
Society, Lincoln, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Nebraska State Historical Society (NSHS) 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 NSHS. 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 NSHS at the address in this notice by May 
31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Rob Bozell, Nebraska State Historical Society, P.O. Box 
82554, Lincoln, NE 68501, telephone (402) 525-1624, 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 NSHS. The human 
remains and

[[Page 19108]]

associated funerary objects were removed from Sarpy County, NE.
    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 the NSHS 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Omaha 
Tribe of Nebraska.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1954, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from archeological site 25SY15 in Sarpy County, NE. In 
1883, one or more burials reported to be affiliated with Chief Big Elk 
and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska were uncovered during construction of 
Bellevue College and reburied on campus. In June 1954, during 
construction work on the campus, the reburied remains were removed, and 
were reinterred in Bellevue Cemetery; members of the Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska and a chaplain from nearby Offut Air Force Base officiated. 
The NSHS was involved in the 1954 exhumation, during which it collected 
several human bone fragments and a sample of associated funerary 
objects. These human remains and funerary objects have been curated at 
the NSHS. The age and sex of the individual are indeterminate. No known 
individual was identified. The 47 associated funerary objects are one 
spoon, one knife with bone handle, one pair scissors, three brass 
ornaments, one brass bracelet, one brass fragment, one whetstone, two 
copper ear bobs, one military button, one box of fabric, six kettle 
fragments, five knife blade fragments, 13 metal fragments, four mussel 
shells, two spoon fragments, one metal strainer, two wood fragments, 
and one mammal canine tooth.
    The associated funerary objects are consistent with assemblages 
found in 19th century Native America interments. All archival 
information appears to indicate that interments containing such 
assemblages of funerary objects are culturally affiliated with the 
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. However, the small sample of human remains and 
associated funerary objects collected precludes a specific association 
with Chief Big Elk.

Determinations Made by the NSHS

    Officials of the NSHS have determined that:
     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(3)(A), the 47 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 associated funerary objects and the Omaha 
Tribe of Nebraska.

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 Rob Bozell, Nebraska State Historical 
Society, P.O. Box 82554, Lincoln, NE 68501, telephone (402) 525-1624, 
email [email protected], by May 31, 2018. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska may proceed.
    The NSHS is responsible for notifying the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 10, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-09175 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am]
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