[Federal Register: September 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 176)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57622-57623]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11se02-72]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service
 
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
in the Possession of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN

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 remains in the possession of 
the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, Bemidji, MN.
    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, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native

[[Page 57623]]

American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Crow Tribe of Montana.
    Prior to 1920, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed from an unknown site in the Big Horn Valley, MT. Robert 
Somerville donated the human remains to the Minnesota Historical 
Society in 1920. Accession records indicate that the human remains were 
removed from ``an Indian cemetery in the Big Horn Valley.'' No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. In 1987, these human remains were transferred to the Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council pursuant to provisions of Minnesota statute 
307.08.
    Other donations from Mr. Somerville to the Minnesota Historical 
Society indicate that these human remains may have been collected in 
the vicinity of St. Xavier Mission, MT. The St. Xavier Mission 
ministered to the Crow Indians and is believed to have had an adjacent 
cemetery. St. Xavier Mission is located within the aboriginal territory 
of the Crow Indians as determined by the Unites States Indian Claims 
Commission.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council 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 Native 
American human remains and the Crow Tribe of Montana.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Crow Tribe of 
Montana. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself 
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact 
James L. (Jim) Jones Jr., Cultural Resource Specialist, Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, 1819 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601, 
telephone (218) 755-3182, before October 11, 2002. Repatriation of 
these human remains to the Crow Tribe of Montana may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 13, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-23016 Filed 9-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S