SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Michigan History Center, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified. The eight associated funerary objects are silver brooches pinned through hair braid. Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from St. Joseph County, MI. On August 5, 1908, David Beerstecher removed a braid of hair with silver brooches from a burial site (20SJ152) in Three Rivers, MI. Beerstecher excavated multiple burials. The grave from which the braid of hair was removed also included additional human remains and funerary objects which were not donated to the Michigan History Center. Beerstecher indicated that French-made trade silver was included among the funerary objects, which provides an estimated date range for the burial of around A.D. 1760-1796. The Anishinabek (principally the Potawatomi) and the Miami were the predominant Tribes living in the area at the estimated time for the burial. However, several additional Tribes visited and traded in the region during the French period, including (but not limited to) Ojibwe, Odawa, Sac, Fox, and Peoria Tribes. The Anishinabek leader Cushaway or Cush-ee-wee was known to have established a village near the burial site and Three Rivers, MI, in the early-1800s. The one associated funerary object is one lot of silver brooches.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The Michigan History Center has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• The eight objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana; Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (previously listed as Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan); Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma; and the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 21, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Michigan History Center must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Michigan History Center is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

91 FR 46140