FR Doc E8-8293[Federal Register: April 17, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 20942-20943]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ap08-68]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Michigan Technological University
Department Of Social Sciences Archaeology Laboratory, Houghton, MI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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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
Michigan Technological University Department of Social Sciences
Archaeology Laboratory, Houghton MI. The human remains were removed
from the Gros Cap Cemetery (20MK6) in Moran Township, Mackinac 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). 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.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by professional
staff from the Michigan Technological University Department of Social
Sciences Archaeology Laboratory and Illinois State Museum, Springfield,
IL, in consultation with representatives of the Bay Mills Indian
Community, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians,
Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan.
In 1979, the human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from the surface of the Gros Cap Cemetery site, 20MK6,
Mackinac County, MI. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
The Gros Cap Cemetery site (20MK6) is an active township cemetery
in the present day, sharing a site with a purported multi-ethnic 17th
century cemetery. The human remains had been exposed on the surface by
unknown processes. Both prehistoric pottery of unknown age or ethnic
affiliation, as well as 19th century coffin parts were recovered in
association with the human remains. The human remains from 20MK6 were
recovered from lands historically occupied by the Bay Mills Indian
Community of Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians,
Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of
[[Page 20943]]
Chippewa Indians of Michigan. Based on the information, the officials
of Michigan Technological University Department of Social Sciences
Archaeology Laboratory reasonably determined that the human remains
were likely Native American. However, the officials of Michigan
Technological University Department of Social Sciences Archaeology
Laboratory considered the available information insufficient to
conclude that the human remains are culturally affiliated to a present-
day Indian tribe, and reasonably determined the human remains to be
culturally unidentifiable.
Officials of the Michigan Technological University Department of
Social Sciences Archaeology Laboratory have determined that, pursuant
to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9-10), the human remains described above likely
represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the Michigan Technological University Department
of Social Sciences Archaeology Laboratory also have determined that,
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.
In July of 2007, the Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan; Little
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie
Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan formally requested disposition of
the human remains from Michigan Technological University to their
tribes. Tribal representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community of
Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; and
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan agree that they
historically occupied the geographic area where the Gros Cap Cemetery/
Burial site is located, and continue to have a presence in the area
mentioned.
In July of 2007, officials of Michigan Technological University
requested that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
Review Committee (Review Committee) recommend disposition of the one
culturally unidentifiable human remains from 20MK6, and further
requested that the committee recommend disposition of the human remains
to the Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan; Little Traverse Bay
Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of
Chippewa Indians of Michigan. The Review Committee is responsible for
recommending specific actions for disposition of culturally
unidentifiable human remains.
On October 15-16, 2007, the Review Committee considered the request
and concurred with the proposal for the disposition of the culturally
unidentifiable human remains to the Bay Mills Indian Community of
Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; and
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan. In a letter
dated November 28, 2007, the Department of the Interior considered the
Review Committee's recommendation and independently concurred with its
findings and recommendations to proceed with the disposition pursuant
to the publication of a Notice of Inventory Completion in the Federal
Register. This notice fulfills that requirement.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr.
Susan R. Martin, Michigan Technological University Department of Social
Sciences Archaeology Laboratory, Houghton, MI 49931, telephone (906)
487-2366, before May 19, 2008. Disposition of the human remains to the
Bay Mills Indian Community of Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of
Odawa Indians, Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
of Michigan may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
The Michigan Technological University Department of Social Sciences
Archaeology Laboratory is responsible for notifying the Bay Mills
Indian Community of Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Indians, Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of
Michigan that this notice has been published.
Dated: March 12, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-8293 Filed 4-16-08; 8:45 am]
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