83 FR 28260 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 117 (June 18, 2018)

The Berkshire Museum 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 the Berkshire Museum. 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.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28260-28261]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13041]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025556; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Berkshire Museum 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 the Berkshire Museum. 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 the 
Berkshire Museum at the address in this notice by July 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Jason Vivori, Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, 
MA 01201, telephone (413) 443-7171 ext. 341, 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 Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA. The human remains 
were removed from Lake Shawano, Shawano County, WI.
    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 the 
Berkshire Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1889, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Lake Shawano in Shawano County, WI. A paper tag 
attached to the human remains (three teeth) states, ``Taken from a 
Mound near Lake Shawan, Wisconsin By Dr. J. Jones--A.D. 1889.'' No 
known individuals were identified. There are no associated funerary 
objects present.
    In a telephone conversation on November 13, 1995, the Menominee 
Indian Tribe of Wisconsin's NAGPRA contact (David Grignon) verified 
that Lake Shawano was part of the Menominee's historically documented 
territory. Dr. J. Jones most likely refers to Dr. Joseph Jones (1833-
1896), who was a professor at the University of Louisiana (1872-1893). 
Dr. Jones' archaeological research focused on Mound Builder sites, as 
supported by a journal article, ``The Aboriginal Mound Builders of 
Tennessee'' in The American Journalist (Vol. 3, No. 2 (April 1869), pp. 
57-73). This evidence supports the provenience information provided on 
the paper tag.

Determinations Made by the Berkshire Museum

    Officials of the Berkshire Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individuals of 
Native American ancestry.

[[Page 28261]]

     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 Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

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 Jason 
Vivori, Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 
telephone (413) 443-7171 ext. 341, email [email protected], 
by July 18, 2018. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Menominee 
Indian Tribe of Wisconsin may proceed.
    The Berkshire Museum is responsible for notifying the Menominee 
Indian Tribe of Wisconsin that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 9, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-13041 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
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