2015-02184. Notice of Inventory Completion: The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The American Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the American Museum of Natural History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES:

Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request with information in support of the request to the American Museum of Natural History at the address in this notice March 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

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 under the control of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. The human remains were removed from Bay and Saginaw Counties, 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 American Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan (hereinafter referred to as “The Tribes”).

Additional requests for consultation were sent to the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan (previously listed as the Huron Potawatomi, Inc.); Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (previously listed as the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas); Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New York); Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York); Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota; White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; and the Wyandotte Nation.

History and Description of the Remains

In an unknown year, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 adult male individual were removed by an employee of the Michigan Central Railroad Company from a site 3 miles south of Saginaw Bay, along the west side of the Saginaw River near West Bay City in Bay County, MI. In 1903, the American Museum of Natural History purchased the remains from E.H. Crane. No known individuals were identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing, at minimum, 2 adult individuals were collected by Harlan Smith from sand obtained from Andrews Sand Hill, Germain Village Site, secondarily deposited near north of the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing at minimum, 10 individuals, were collected by Harlan I. Smith from a disturbed grave in the Germain Village Site, East Side of Saginaw River, Saginaw County, Saginaw, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1899. No known individuals were identified.

In 1894, human remains representing at minimum, 14 individuals, were collected by Harlan I. Smith from Fobear Mound #1, south of the Cass River, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing, at minimum, 3 adult individuals, were collected by Harlan I. Smith from Fobear Mound #2, south of Cass River, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 adult individual, were collected by Harlan I. Smith, from the largest of the three mounds, Spaulding, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

On July 1, 1894, human remains representing, at minimum, 2 adult individuals, were collected by Harlan I. Smith from the Frazier Village Site, south side of the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing at minimum, 1 adult individual, were collected by Harlan I. Smith from Ayers Camp site, east side of Saginaw River, Saginaw, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1899. No known individual was identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing at minimum, 1 individual, were collected by George Rose from the Flint River, Saginaw County, MI. It is unknown when Rose transferred the remains to Harlan I. Smith, who gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

In an unknown year, human remains representing at minimum, 5 individuals, were collected by Harlan I. Smith in Golson's Yard, South Saginaw, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

On August 19, 1894, human remains representing at minimum, 1 adult individual, were collected by Harlan I. Smith, from the Little Village Site, Park House vicinity, Saginaw, Saginaw County, MI. Smith gifted these remains to the American Museum of Natural History in 1901. No known individuals were identified.

Determinations Made by the American Museum of Natural History

Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice are Native American based primarily on the donor's collecting history and archaeological context.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 41 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• 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.
• According to final judgments of the Indian Claims Commission, the land from which the Native American human remains were removed is the aboriginal land of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
• Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders indicate that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed is the aboriginal land of The Tribes.
• Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the human remains may be to The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, NY, NY 10024, telephone [phone], email [e-mail], by March 6, 2015. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.

The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

Dated: January 14, 2015

Melanie O'Brien,

Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.