[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80399-80400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32971]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, 
Bemidji, MN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined 
that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and any 
present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may 
contact the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Disposition of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes stated 
below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the 
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council at the address below by January 23, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: James L. (Jim) Jones, Cultural Resource Director, Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, 3801 Bemidji Avenue NW., Suite 5, Bemidji, MN 
56601, telephone (218) 755-3223.

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 and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the Minnesota Indian 
Affairs Council (MIAC). The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Kittson, Lake of the Woods and Roseau 
Counties, MN.
    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 MIAC 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Red Lake 
Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota and the Turtle Mountain Band of 
Chippewa Indians of North Dakota.

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from an undesignated site in Kittson County, 
MN, by K. Lund of Karlstad, MN. In 1976, the human remains were donated 
to the Minnesota Historical Society (Acc. 184-6). In 1987, the human 
remains were transferred to the MIAC (H319.27B). No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The condition of the human remains and cranial morphology identify 
these human remains as pre-contact American Indian. These human remains 
have no archeological classification and cannot be associated with any 
present-day Indian tribe.
    At an unknown date, human representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an area 400 feet offshore from 21LW6, Fort St. 
Charles in Lake of the Woods County, MN, by divers working for the 
Minnesota Historical Society. The human remains were donated to the 
Minnesota Historical Society (Acc. 388-47). In 1993, the human remains 
were transferred to the MIAC (H226). No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a preform tool made 
from a grooved and split antler beam.
    The condition and context of the human remains identify these human 
remains as pre-contact American Indian. These human remains have no 
archeological classification and cannot be associated with any present-
day Indian tribe.
    In 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the O. Erickson farm, site 21-RO-28, in Malung, 
Roseau County, MN, by A. Erickson and donated to the Roseau County 
Historical Society (Acc. 13E). In 1995, the human remains were 
transferred to the Minnesota Office of

[[Page 80400]]

the State Archaeologist by D. Nysteun of the Minnesota Historical 
Society, and in 1997, they were transferred to the MIAC (H325). No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The condition of the human remains and femora morphology identify 
these remains as pre-contact American Indian. Records at the Roseau 
County Historical Society including a publication entitled, ``The North 
Land--A History of Roseau County'' report the presence of twelve 
arrowheads near the skeleton. These items were not included with the 
transfer of the human remains. These human remains have no 
archeological classification and cannot be associated with any present-
day Indian tribe.
    In 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were recovered from Roseau, site 21-RO-29, in Roseau County, MN, during 
a water trench construction project and transferred to the Roseau 
County Historical Society (Acc. 14E). In 1995, the human remains were 
transferred to the Minnesota Office of the State Archaeologist by D. 
Nysteun, and in 1997, they were transferred to the MIAC (H326). No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The condition of the human remains and cranial morphology identify 
these remains as pre-contact American Indian. These human remains have 
no archeological classification and cannot be associated with any 
present-day Indian tribe.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, seven 
individuals were recovered from an unknown location in Roseau County, 
MN, by unknown person(s) and donated to the Roseau County Historical 
Society in 1995 (Accs. 573A, 574A, 576A). In 1995, the human remains 
were transferred to the Minnesota Office of the State Archaeologist by 
D. Nysteun, and in 1997, they were transferred to the MIAC (H328). No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The condition of the human remains, including red ochre staining, 
and cranial morphology identify these human remains as pre-contact 
American Indian. These human remains have no archeological 
classification and cannot be associated with any present-day Indian 
tribe.

Determinations Made by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

    Officials of the MIAC have determined that:
     Based on non-destructive physical analysis and catalogue 
records, the human remains are Native American.
     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 and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota and the Turtle Mountain 
Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 15 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
above is 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.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains is to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota 
and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains or any other Indian tribe 
that believes it satisfies the criteria in 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1) should 
contact James L. (Jim) Jones, Cultural Resource Director, Minnesota 
Indian Affairs Council, 3801 Bemidji Avenue NW., Suite 5, Bemidji, MN 
56601, telephone (218) 755-3223, before January 23, 2012. Disposition 
of the human remains to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, 
Minnesota and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North 
Dakota may proceed after that date if no additional requestors come 
forward.
    The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council is responsible for notifying 
the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota and the Turtle 
Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: December 20, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-32971 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
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