[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 28077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11851]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[2253-665]
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Michigan University,
Anthropology Department, Kalamazoo, MI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Western Michigan University, Department of Anthropology, has
completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural
affiliation between the human remains and any present-day Indian tribe.
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Western
Michigan University, Department of Anthropology. Disposition of the
human remains to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no
additional requestors come forward.
DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the Western
Michigan University, Department of Anthropology, at the address below
by June 13, 2011.
ADDRESSES: LouAnn Wurst, Department of Anthropology, Western Michigan
University, 1005 Moore Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, telephone (269) 387-
2753.
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 in the
possession of the Western Michigan University, Department of
Anthropology, Kalamazoo, MI. The human remains were removed from
Newaygo County, MI.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Western
Michigan University, Department of Anthropology, professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Little River Band of Ottawa
Indians, Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians
of Michigan; and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and
Indiana.
History and Description of the Remains
Between 1967 and 1968, human remains representing a minimum of
three individuals were removed from Section 11, Lilley Township,
Sission Lake Site, Newaygo County, MI, during excavation by the (now
former) Newaygo County Archaeological Society. After recovery, the
remains and funerary objects were sent to Western Michigan University
for further analysis and curation by Dr. Robert Sundick. No known
individuals were identified. The funerary objects were identified in
the excavators' original notes and originally listed in the museum
inventory, but are not currently found in the collection. Therefore,
the associated funerary objects are missing from the collection.
The remains were recovered from a mound context. Two of the crania
are adults and the third is from an adolescent. The skeletal remains
are primarily cranium and longbones, suggesting the possibility of
secondary internments. The Sission Lake Site is dated to the Middle to
Early Late Woodland period (circa A.D. 600-800) based on the typologies
of the funerary objects described in the excavators' notes.
Determinations Made by the Western Michigan University, Department of
Anthropology
Officials of the Western Michigan University, Department of
Anthropology, have determined that:
Based on removal from a mound, Woodland time period of
associated artifacts, and skeletal and dental morphology, the human
remains are Native American.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American
human remains and any present-day Indian tribe.
Multiple lines of evidence, including the Treaty of
Washington (1836), continued occupation, and oral tradition, indicate
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed
is the aboriginal land of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians,
Michigan.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of
Native American ancestry.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the
human remains is to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with the human remains or any other Indian tribe
that believes it satisfies the criteria in 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1) should
contact LouAnn Wurst, Department of Anthropology, Western Michigan
University, 1005 Moore Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, telephone (269) 387-
2753, before June 13, 2011. Disposition of the human remains to the
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan, may proceed after that
date if no additional requestors come forward.
The Western Michigan University, Department of Anthropology, is
responsible for notifying the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians,
Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of
Michigan; and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and
Indiana, that this notice has been published.
Dated: May 9, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-11851 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
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