[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 1999)] [Notices] [Page 29066] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-13596] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Colorado Historical Society, Denver, CO AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Colorado Historical Society, Denver, CO. A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Colorado Historical Society professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah and Ouray Reservation. In 1897, human remains representing one individual from western Colorado were donated by Mrs. M.E. Crowley to the Colorado Historical Society. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Extant documentation indicates that this young Ute woman was slain in 1885; and it is probable that this happened during the Beaver Creek Massacre in June, 1885. According to historical documents and Ute oral tradition, two Weeminuche Ute families were camped on Beaver Creek north of Dolores, CO when they were attacked by white American settlers; resulting in the deaths of six or seven persons, including two women. Based on this information, this individual has been identified as Native American of Ute tribal affiliation. During the 1940s, human remains representing one individual came into the possession of Arthur Sutton, the sheriff of Montrose County, CO. The circumstances surrounding the recovery of these human remains are not known. In 1956, Arthur Sutton donated these human remains to the Colorado Historical Society. No known individual was identified. The 14 associated funerary objects include fragments of a ``Kentucky'' or ``Indian'' rifle; textile fragments from a Navajo blanket and possible ``uniform''; and a metal button. Based on physical examinations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1946 and associated funerary objects, these human remains have been identified as Native American from the historic period. The associated funerary objects are similar to items which have been excavated with other known Ute graves in Colorado. Montrose County, CO is part of the pre-1900 homeland of the present-day Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah and Ouray Reservation, specifically the Uncompahgre Band (Taveewach). Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Colorado Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Colorado Historical Society have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 14 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 Colorado Historical Society 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 Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah and Ouray Reservation. This notice has been sent to officials of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah and Ouray Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Anne Wainstein Bond, Curator of Material Culture, Colorado Historical Society, 1300 Broadway, Denver, CO, 80203; telephone: (303) 866-4691, before June 28, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Unitah and Ouray Reservation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: May 18, 1999. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program. [FR Doc. 99-13596 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-F