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 UM, 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

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. The one adult (likely female) and one subadult (likely male) arrived at UM prior to 1991 and were assigned University of Montana Forensic Collection (UMFC) accession number UMFC 50. The 18 associated funerary objects are two unmodified copper wire bracelets, one copper wire bracelet with linear marks, and 15 machine twisted copper wire bracelets (two of which are double strand). The adult individual was reported as wearing these 18 bracelets on the forearm at the time of discovery. It is unknown whether or how the two individuals were connected. To date, their geographic place of origin and history of how they came to be at UM remains unknown and to the best of UM's knowledge there is no recorded use of hazardous substances to treat the human remains or associated funerary objects.

Cultural Affiliation

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

Determinations

UM has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 18 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 Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana.

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 November 30, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UM 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. UM 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 68549