Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19511-19514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10326]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Minnesota Indain Affairs 
Council, Bemidji, MN.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Hamline 
University professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Santee Sioux Tribe of 
Nebraska, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Lower Sioux 
Indian Community of Minnesota, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe of North Dakota, 
Prairie Island Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota, Yankton Sioux 
Tribe of South Dakota, Shakopee Dakota Community of Minnesota, and the 
Upper Sioux Indian Community of the Upper Sioux Reservation.
    In 1938, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from a Spirit Lake Sioux cemetery overlooking the river near Tokio, ND 
by unknown person(s) and ``dropped off'' at the University of 
Minnesota. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a celluloid pin.
    Based on the cemetary location and use, these human remains have 
been identified as Native American. Based on the associated funerary 
object, these human remains are also estimated to date from the late 
nineteenth century. This cemetery is known to have been exclusively 
used by the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe during this time.
    In 1946, human remains representing four individuals were recovered 
from the Saienga Mound, Chippewa County, MN during excavations 
conducted by L.A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary objects 
include a catlinite elbow pipe, iron nails, gunflints, a striking 
steel, a coiled spring, a ring, a broken knife, and a ``washer'' 
ornament.
    Based on the associated funerary objects, these individuals have 
been identified as Native American. These burial are from the post 
contact period, and represent intrusive burials into a precontact 
mound. Based on the trade goods present and manner of interment, these 
individuals have been identified as Sisseton-Wahpeton.
    In 1963, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Kemnitz site, Renville County, MN during excavations conducted 
by Anderson and Norquist of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individual was identified. The ten associated funerary objects include 
metal earrings, a coffin nail, a bone comb, glass beads, human hair, a 
feather, iron scissors, fabric, fabric with feathers, and coffin wood 
fragments.
    Based on the associated funerary objects, these individuals have 
been identified as Native American. The location, age of the associated 
funerary objects, and manner of interment of these individuals indicate 
affiliation with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe.
    In 1940, human remains representing six individuals were recovered 
from the Huber Mound site, Scott County, MN during excavations 
conducted by L.A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is a 
scraper.
    Based on material culture, the Huber Mound site has been identified 
at a Late Woodland--Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. Based on 
continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and construction, 
archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of this area by 
the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined Brainerd to 
Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, present during 
the Late Woodland and early

[[Page 19512]]

Contact periods, are generally regarded as the ancestors of the Dakota. 
Manner of interment of these individuals are consistent with known 
ancestral Dakota practice.
    In 1950, human remains representing 28 individuals were recovered 
from the Brown's Mounds (also known as Eck Mounds), Hennepin County, MN 
during excavations conducted by L.A. Wilford of the University of 
Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. The seven associated 
funerary objects include a potsherd, three canine teeth, a biface/knife 
face, a broken end scraper, and a snail shell bead.
    Based on material culture, the Brown's Mounds site has been 
identified at a Late Woodland-Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. 
Based on continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and 
construction, archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of 
this area by the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined 
Brainerd to Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, 
present during the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are 
generally regarded as the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment 
of these individuals are consistent with known ancestral Dakota 
practice.
    In 1938, human remains representing 19 individuals were recovered 
from the Fingerson Mound site, Pope County, MN during excavations 
conducted by L.A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is a 
headless buffalo calf skeleton.
    Based on material culture, the Fingerson Mound site has been 
identified at a Late Woodland-Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. 
Based on continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and 
construction, archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of 
this area by the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined 
Brainerd to Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, 
present during the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are 
generally regarded as the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment 
of these individuals are consistent with known ancestral Dakota 
practice.
    In 1964, human remains representing 54 individuals were recovered 
formt he Steele Mounds (Shakopee Mounds), Scott County, MN during 
excavations conducted by Elden Johnson of the University of Minnesota. 
No known individuals were identified. The 54 associated funerary 
objects include bison teeth, shell, a horse bit, a ring with stone, tin 
strip and tinklers, coffin nails, a bell, two pipestone heads, a 
knife,earrings, a crucifix, brooches, cloth, hair, a shroud, glass 
beads, shell bead, hawk bells with fabric fragments, spoons, a lock, 
bracelets, a disk, a pewter medallion, deer tooth, porcelin fragments, 
, metal point, projectile points, piece of pipe tube, Germain silver 
breast plate, mound birchbark, brass and copper disk fragments, 
crockery, nails, iron rings, brass stud, turtle shell, worked bones, 
metal armband fragments, buckle, metal fragments, gunflints, potsherd, 
end scrapers, utilized flake, rounded stone, hammerstone, side scraper, 
17 bags of charcoal wood, and bark, burned birchbark with sewing holes, 
burned needle/awl, charred wood and burned bone fragments, woven 
fabric, shroud fabric, board fragments.
    Based on the types of associated funerary objects and manner of 
interments, these human remains have been determined to be Native 
American. The apparent age of the associated funerary objects place the 
date of burial to the late 18th and early 19th century. The apparent 
age of the burials, associated funerary objects, manner of interment, 
and location of the burial indicate affiliation with the Mdewakanton 
Dakota.
    In 1938, human remains representing ten individuals were recovered 
from the Bartke Mound Group, Pope County, MN during excavations 
conducted by L.A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on material culture, the Bartke Mound Group has been 
identified at a Late Woodland-Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. 
Based on continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and 
construction, archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of 
this area by the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined 
Brainerd to Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, 
present during the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are 
generally regarded as the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment 
of these individuals are consistent with known ancestral Dakota 
practice.
    In 1951, human remains representing 23 individuals were recovered 
from the McKee site, Washington County, MN during excavations conducted 
by L.A. Wilford of the University of Minnesota. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture, the McKee site has been identified at a 
Woodland-Mille Lacs focus (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. Based on 
continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and construction, 
archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of this area by 
the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined Brainerd to 
Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, present during 
the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are generally regarded as 
the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment of these individuals 
are consistent with known ancestral Dakota practice.
    In 1960, human remains representing 37 individuals were recovered 
from the Crookston site, Polk County, MN during excavations conducted 
by Elden Johnson of the University of Minnesota. No known individuals 
were identified. The three associated funerary objects include aunal 
remains, a stone flake, a worked shell, and burial soil matrix samples.
    Based on material culture, the Crookston site has been identified 
at a Late Woodland-Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. Based on 
continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and construction, 
archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of this area by 
the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined Brainerd to 
Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, present during 
the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are generally regarded as 
the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment of these individuals 
are consistent with known ancestral Dakota practice.
    In 1950, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from an unknown location in Crow Wing County, MN by three fishermen 
(un-named) and donated to the University of Minnesota. No known 
individual was identified. The two associated funerary objects include 
an Ogechie vessel and a bone flesher.
    Based on the associated funerary objects, this individual has been 
determined to be Native American dating to approximately 1000-1750 A.D. 
Based on continuties of Ogechie ceramic style with ceramics at 
documented Mdewankanton sites in the Mille Lacs area, this individual 
has been determined to be affiliated with the Mdewankanton Dakota.
    In 1969, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Cooper site, Mille Lacs County, MN during excavations 
conducted by Jan Streiff of the University of Minnesota. No known 
individual was identified. The two associated funerary objects are two 
mortuary ceramic vessels.

[[Page 19513]]

    In 1967, human remains representing ten individuals were recovered 
from the Cooper site by Gordon Lothson and donated to the University of 
Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. The 102 associated 
funerary objects include mortuary vessels, projectile points, a harpoon 
point, iron fragments, an arrowshaft wrench, knives, glass beads, 
copper jingles, a bird bone whistle, arrowshaft abraders, knife 
sharpener, bone beads, birch bark, lithic core, hammerstone, knife 
handle fragments, two beaver incisors, metal fragments, bone tubes, 
fire-cracked rock, a brass ring, gypsum piece, scrapers, brass jingles, 
sherds, flake, wood fragments, shell spoons, flotation materials from 
burial matrix, a green stone pendent, a small catlinite elbow pipe, 
orchre, bone needles, burial matrix, brass/copper bracelet, fishbone, 
bone flakes, and shells.
    In 1965, human remains representing 11 individuals were recovered 
from the Cooper site by L.R. Cooper and donated to the University of 
Minnesota. No known individuals were identified. The two associated 
funerary objects are mortuary vessels.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing four individuals 
were recovered from the Cooper site under unknown circumstances and 
accessioned into the University of Minnesota's collections with the 
accession number UM0636. No known individuals were identified. The two 
associated funerary objects are a catlinite disc pipe and a mortuary 
vessel.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing six individuals were 
recovered from the Cooper site under unknown circumstances and 
accessioned in to the University of Minnesota's collections with the 
accession number UM0664. No known individuals were identified. The four 
associated funerary objects are morturary vessels.
    Based on the associated funerary objects and manner of interment, 
these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on 
material culture, manner of interment, and village subsistence 
practices, the Cooper site has been identified as a Mdewankanton Dakota 
occupation dating after 1670 A.D.
    In 1934, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered from the Davis and Findlay Mounds, Hennepin County, MN during 
excavations conducted by G.F. Ekhom of the University of Minnesota. No 
known individuals were identified. The five associated funerary objects 
include a metal scraper, a metal bracelet, coffin wood, a clam shell, 
and iron nails.
    Based on material culture, the Davis and Findlay Mounds, described 
as being located ``on the south end of Third Avenue, Minneapolis'', 
have been identified as Mulicomponent Woodland with intrusive historic 
period burials. Based on the associated funerary objects and manner of 
interment, these individuals have been identified as Native American 
from the historic period. During the historic period, the area of the 
Davis and Findlay mounds were heavily used by the Mdewankanton Dakota.
    Prior to 1905, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from a mound on Phelp's Island by Alfred J. Hill, who donated 
his collections to the University of Minnesota in 1905. No known 
indivdiual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on material culture, the Phelp's Island site has been 
identified at a Late Woodland-Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. 
Based on continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and 
construction, archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of 
this area by the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined 
Brainerd to Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, 
present during the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are 
generally regarded as the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment 
of these individuals are consistent with known ancestral Dakota 
practice.
    In 1934, human remains representing 18 individuals were recovered 
from the Round Mound, Traverse County, MN during excavations conducted 
by A.E. Jenks of the University of Minnesota. No known individuals were 
identified. The nine associated funerary objects include bone armbands, 
a bone awl, a platform pipe, a quartzite knife, an atlatl weight, a 
soil matrix cor, and ochre.
    Based on material culture, the Round Mound site has been identified 
at a Late Woodland-Kathio phase (900-1300 A.D.) occupation. Based on 
continuities of material culture in ceramic styles and construction, 
archeological evidence indicates long-term occupation of this area by 
the same cultural group, from the archeologically-defined Brainerd to 
Kathio-Clam River-Blackduck to Psinomani. The Psinomani, present during 
the Late Woodland and early Contact periods, are generally regarded as 
the ancestors of the Dakota. Manner of interment of these individuals 
are consistent with known ancestral Dakota practice.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of 238 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council have also determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 213 objects listed above 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. Lastly, officials of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council 
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced 
between these Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Santee 
Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, 
Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe of 
North Dakota, Prairie Island Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota, 
Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Shakopee Dakota Community of 
Minnesota, and the Upper Sioux Indian Community of the Upper Sioux 
Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Flandreau Santee 
Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Sisseton-
Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, Lower Sioux Indian Community of 
Minnesota, Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe of North Dakota, Prairie Island 
Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota, Yankton Sioux Tribe of South 
Dakota, Shakopee Dakota Community of Minnesota, and the Upper Sioux 
Indian Community of the Upper Sioux Reservation. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
James L. (Jim) Jones, Cultural Resource Specialist, Minnesota Indian 
Affairs Council, 1819 bemidji Ave. Bemidji, MN 56601; telephone: (218) 
755-3825, before May 20, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of 
South Dakota, Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux 
Tribe of South Dakota, Lower Sioux Indian Community of Minnesota, 
Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe of North Dakota, Prairie Island Mdewakanton 
Sioux Community of Minnesota, Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, 
Shakopee Dakota Community of Minnesota, and the Upper Sioux Indian 
Community of the

[[Page 19514]]

Upper Sioux Reservation may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
Dated: April 14, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-10326 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F