[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71120-71121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28280]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16305; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army, 
Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, Fort Sill, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum has 
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that a relationship of 
lineal descent has been established between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects of an identified individual and the 
individual's descendants. Lineal descendants not identified in this 
notice who wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to Fort 
Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum. If no additional requestors 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the lineal descendants stated in this notice may 
proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants not identified in this notice who wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and 
Museum at the address in this notice by December 31, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Scott A. Neel, Director, Fort Sill National Historic 
Landmark and Museum, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, 
OK 73503, telephone (580) 442-6570, 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Fort Sill National 
Historic Landmark and Museum, Fort Sill, OK. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from a gravesite of an 
identified individual near Anadarko, OK.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25

[[Page 71121]]

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 and associated funerary 
objects. 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 Fort 
Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum and Fort Sill Environmental 
Quality Division professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as 
Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; 
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; The Chickasaw Nation; and the Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma. The 
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and her 
staff, and other administrative staff, met with members of the Fort 
Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum and Fort Sill Environmental 
Quality Division staff on November 14, 2013, and examined the human 
remains and associated funerary objects.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the original gravesite of Black Beaver near his home 
in Anadarko, Caddo County, OK. The human remains were exhumed for 
reburial in Chief's Knoll at the Fort Sill Post Cemetery. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were not reinterred at Chief's 
Knoll. Black Beaver was a Delaware Chief. He was born in 1806 and died 
in 1886. The 52 associated funerary objects are 11 burnt clay and 
rocks, 12 animal bones, 2 glass fragments, 14 metal buttons or rivets, 
3 plastic buttons, 4 unidentified pieces of metal, 2 lots of scraps of 
fabric, 1 lot of soil, 1 lot of wood fragments, and 2 lots of wood and 
nails from the coffin.
    Kerry Holton has submitted a request for the human remains and 
associated funerary objects listed in this notice on behalf of himself 
and other relatives who are known lineal descendants of Black Beaver. 
Holton provided genealogical evidence tracing his direct lineal descent 
from Black Beaver. Harold Pruner and Kelli Line have also submitted 
genealogical evidence on behalf of themselves and additional named and 
unnamed descendants.

Determinations Made by the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and 
Museum

    Officials of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and 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 individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 52 objects described 
in this notice 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.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.14(b), there is a relationship of 
lineal descent that can be traced between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects of an identified individual, Black Beaver, 
and Kerry Holton, Harold Pruner, Kelli Line, and additional named and 
unnamed descendants who have come forward.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants not identified in this notice who wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Scott A. Neel, Director, Fort Sill 
National Historic Landmark and Museum, U.S. Army Fires Center of 
Excellence, Fort Sill, OK 73503, telephone (580) 442-6570, email 
[email protected], by December 31, 2014. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects of Black Beaver to Kerry 
Holton, Harold Pruner, and Kelli Line on behalf of themselves and other 
known lineal descendants may proceed.
    The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum is responsible 
for notifying the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; 
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as Cheyenne-
Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian 
Tribe of Oklahoma; The Chickasaw Nation; and the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: November 14, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-28280 Filed 11-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P