[Federal Register: May 3, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 86)]
[Notices]
[Page 22247]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03my01-89]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate
cultural items in the possession of the Grand Valley State University,
Allendale, MI, that meet the definition of ``unassociated funerary
object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum that has control of the cultural items. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    In 1971 and 1972, students and staff of Grand Valley State
University, under the direction of Dr. Richard Flanders, removed 951
unassociated funerary objects from the Battle Point site (20OT04),
Crockery Township, Ottawa County, MI. These funerary objects were not
clearly associated with specific burials; however, they are typical of
objects found in clear association with other discrete burials on the
site. The unassociated funerary objects include iron buckets; clay
pipes; glass beads; and silver ornaments, these including gorgets,
tinklers, and brooches. The catalog numbers of these unassociated
funerary objects are 2001-2003, 2007-2016, 2018-2024, 2031-2035, 2039-
2040, 2042-2047, 2053-2055, 2065-2066, 2068-2071, and 2073.
    In 1988, students and staff of Grand Valley State University
removed 101 unassociated funerary objects from the Battle Point site
during surface survey of the area. The unassociated funerary objects
include beads, silver ornaments, tinkle cones, bucket fragments, wood,
nails, a kaolin pipe fragment, and a button. The catalog numbers of
these unassociated funerary objects are 2000, 20OT04/1988/, and 20OT04/
00.
    The Battle Point site is a multi-component site consisting of
habitation dating to circa A.D. 200-1300, and a cemetery dating to the
mid-19th century. Associated funerary objects date the burials to circa
1800-1840. Excavation notes, spatial analyses, and other studies
demonstrate that the cemetery intrudes into habitation deposits that
date to pre-European contact and that do not include a mortuary
component. All Euro-American objects dating to the 19th century,
therefore, are reasonably assumed to be funerary objects.
    Historic documentation indicates that a Native American cemetery
associated with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan was
located at the Battle Point site in the mid-19th century. An abstract
of land title dated to 1846 identifies an association between members
of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan and the plot on
which the cemetery is located. The cemetery is specifically mentioned
in a 1864 land transaction as associated with historic Grand River
Valley Bands of Ottawa Indians in Michigan. The Little River Band of
Ottawa Indians is the only current Federally-recognized descendent from
the historic Grand River Bands of Ottawa of Michigan. On the basis of
historical and oral historical information, the Battle Point site
cemetery is determined to be culturally affiliated with the Little
River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.
    Officials of the Grand Valley State University have determined
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(ii), these 1,052 cultural items
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to
have been removed from the grave of an Native American individual.
Officials of the Grand Valley State University also have determined
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared
group identity that can be reasonably traced between these cultural
items and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Grand Traverse Band
of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan, the Little Traverse Bay
Bands of Odawa Indians of Michigan, the Little River Band of Ottawa
Indians of Michigan and to the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, a
non-Federally recognized group. Representatives of any other Indian
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these
cultural items should contact Janet G. Brashler, Professor and Curator
of Anthropology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401,
telephone (616) 854-3694, before June 4, 2001. Repatriation of these
cultural items to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians may begin
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 16, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-11145 Filed 5-2-01; 8:45 am]
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