[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39292-39293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19537]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
from Sand Creek, CO in the Possession of the Colorado Historical
Society, Denver, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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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
[[Page 39293]]
remains from Sand Creek, CO 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 Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation.
On November 29, 1864, human remains representing one individual was
taken from the Sand Creek Massacre site, most likely by Major Jacob
Downing. These human remains, a scalplock, were donated to the Colorado
Historical Society in 1911 by Mrs. Jacob Downing. No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The human remains consist of a human scalplock. Following the Sand
Creek Massacre, Congressional testimony provided by eyewitnesses
records numerous examples of soldiers and officers mutilating the dead
and removing cultural items for ``trophies''. Major Jacob Downing was
present at Sand Creek on November 29, 1864 as an officer of the First
Regiment of the Colorado Volunteers. Based on the preponderance of the
evidence, these human remains have been determined to be Native
American and taken at Sand Creek, CO. Consultation with representatives
of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe
of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind
River Reservation indicates that both Cheyenne and Arapaho people were
slain at Sand Creek, CO.
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 one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the
Colorado Historical Society have also 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 the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne
Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the Arapaho Tribe of
the Wind River Reservation.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Cheyenne-Arapaho
Tribes of Oklahoma, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern
Cheyenne Reservation, and the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River
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,
Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Colorado Historical Society,
1300 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203; telephone: (303) 866-4691, before
August 21, 1998. Repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, and the
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation may begin after that date
if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: July 6, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-19537 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
