[Federal Register: August 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 163)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42920-42921]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au09-103]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

 
Notice of Inventory Completion: Detroit Institute of Arts, 
Detroit, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 in the possession of the 
Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI. The human remains were removed 
from either the city of Detroit or the surrounding area of Detroit, MI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
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.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Detroit 
Institute of Arts professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, 
Michigan.
    Sometime prior to 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 
individuals were removed from private property within either Detroit or 
in the surrounding area outside of Detroit, MI. In 1989, the box 
containing 143 human bones was discovered during an inventory of the 
collections at the Detroit Institute of Arts. An accompanying note read 
``NA Indian bones, Mich.'' The museum determined that the handwriting 
on the note belonged to a curator, now deceased, who had been employed 
at the museum between 1939 and 1972. Museum officials concluded that, 
sometime prior to 1972, these human remains had been transferred to the 
museum by a Detroit-area resident who had discovered them locally and 
on private property. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological examination of the human remains by Wayne State 
University concluded that the human remains were, more likely than not, 
Native American and from a prehistoric date. Officials of the Detroit 
Institute of Arts have determined that given the totality of 
circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the human remains, there 
is insufficient evidence to determine by a reasonable belief, the 
cultural affiliation to any present-day Indian tribe.
    Officials of the Detroit Institute of Arts have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Detroit Institute of Arts also have 
determined that, 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.
    The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee (Review Committee) is responsible for recommending specific 
actions for disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains. In 
2008, officials of the Detroit Institute of Arts requested the 
disposition of the culturally unidentifiable human remains to the Bay 
Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, 
Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay 
Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, 
Michigan and Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and 
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan, as more likely 
than not, aboriginal occupants of the land of present-day Detroit. The 
Review Committee considered the request at its October 11-12, 2008 
meeting and recommended disposition of the human remains to the Bay 
Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, 
Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay 
Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, 
Michigan and Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and 
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan. An April 3, 
2009, letter from the Designated Federal Officer on behalf of the 
Secretary of Interior transmitted the authorization for the museum to 
effect disposition of the human remains of the 10 culturally 
unidentifiable individuals to the Indian tribes listed above contingent 
on the publication of a Notice of Inventory Completion in the Federal 
Register. This notice fulfills that requirement.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally

[[Page 42921]]

affiliated with the human remains should contact David Penney, Vice 
President of Exhibitions and Collection Strategies, Detroit Institute 
of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, telephone (313) 833-
1432, before September 24, 2009. Disposition of the human remains to 
the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian 
Community, Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa 
Indians, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; 
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of 
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe 
of Michigan; and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Detroit Institute of Arts is responsible for notifying the Bay 
Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, 
Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay 
Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, 
Michigan and Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and 
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: August 11, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-20486 Filed 8-24-09; 8:45 am]

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