[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18647-18648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9837]
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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 National Park
Service, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, FL
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
3003 (d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects in the possession of the National Park
Service, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, FL.
A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary
objects was made by National Park Service professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of
Florida, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Mr. Bobby C. Billie, a
spiritual leader of the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation of
Florida, a non-federally recognized Indian group. Good faith efforts to
consult with representatives of the Seminole Tribe of Florida have been
unsuccessful.
In 1977, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from Turner River #5, a burial island site located
within park boundaries. No known individuals were identified. One
fragment of glazed earthenware and one blue glass bead were recovered
in association with the remains. One the basis of these funerary
objects and the state of preservation of the human remains, the site is
dated to ca. 1840 AD at the earliest.
On February 28, 1996, a Federal Register notice was published
regarding the completion of Big Cypress National Preserve's inventory.
The Turner River #5 site was identified by Miccosukee representatives
as being occupied by Seminole people during the middle to the last half
of the 19th century. Information brought to the park's attention by Mr.
Bobby C. Billie shows that the Turner River #5 site was occupied and
utilized by his ancestors, Ingraham and Josie Billie, during the same
time period. Documents from representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of
Indians of Florida support this claim.
Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the National
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the
human remains listed above represent
[[Page 18648]]
the physical remains of at least one individual of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the national Park Service have also determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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 National Park Service have also
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3005(a)(5)(A) Mr. Billie can
trace his ancestry directly and without interruption by means of the
traditional kinship system of the Independent Seminole Nation of
Florida to the individual whose remains and funerary objects are being
claimed.
This notice has been sent to Mr.. Bobby C. Billie, the Miccosukee
Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and the
Seminole Tribe of Florida. Representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Wallace Hibbard,
Superintendent, Big Cypress National Preserve, HCR 61, Box 110,
Ochopee, FL 34141; telephone: (941) 695-2000 ext. 10, before May 16,
1997. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
to Mr. Bobby C. Billie may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Dated: April 3, 1997.
Muriel Crespi,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archaeologist, Archeology and
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-9837 Filed 4-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
