65 FR 177 pgs. 55042-55043 - Notice of Inventory Completion for Human Remains andAssociated Funerary Objects from Fort Stevenson, Dakota Territoryin the Possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology andEthnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Type: NOTICEVolume: 65Number: 177Pages: 55042 - 55043
FR document: [FR Doc. 00-23379 Filed 9-11-00; 8:45 am]
Agency: Interior Department
Sub Agency: National Park Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Human Remains andAssociated Funerary Objects from Fort Stevenson, Dakota Territoryin the Possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology andEthnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
AGENCY:
National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION:
Notice.
Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of theNative American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA),43 CFR 10.9, of the completion of an inventory of human remainsand associated funerary objects from Fort Stevenson, DakotaTerritory in the possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeologyand Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
This notice is published as part of the National ParkService's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR10.2 (c). The determinations within this notice are the soleresponsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency thathas control of these Native American human remains and associatedfunerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsiblefor the determinations within this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made byPeabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff inconsultation with representatives of the Cheyenne River SiouxTribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; the SpiritLake Tribe, North Dakota; the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of theFort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana; and the Standing RockSioux Tribe of North and South Dakota.
In 1867, human remains representing three individuals wereremoved from Fort Stevenson, Dakota Territory by U.S. ArmySurgeon Charles C. Gray and Acting Assistant Surgeon WashingtonMatthews on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution. No knownindividuals were identified. A Notice of Inventory Completion forthese human remains was published September 3, 1997; a correctednotice was published September 15, 1997. The 16 associatedfunerary objects are 7 dentalium shell beads, 7 oval shell beads,1 blue glass bead and a brass bracelet.
Neither the records of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology andEthnology nor the Smithsonian Institution indicate the date oftransfer of these individuals to the Peabody Museum ofArchaeology and Ethnology. Primary accession and cataloguedocuments associated with these individuals at the Smithsonianrecord the individuals to be "Yanktonnais Sioux." Cuthead Bandof Upper Yanktonai Sioux oral traditions and historical documentsindicate that Fort Stevenson was located within the CutheadBand's traditional territory during the 19th century. Thespecific cultural affiliation attributed to the individuals bythe collectors and the known policy during the 19th century ofthe Smithsonian Institution to request the remains of recentlydeceased Native individuals to be collected by U.S. Armypersonnel and Indian agents and sent to the SmithsonianInstitution further support affiliation with the Cuthead Band ofYanktonai Sioux. The Cuthead Band of Yanktonai Sioux arerepresented by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Spirit Lake Tribe,Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, andthe Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of thePeabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that,pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 16 objects listed above arereasonably believed to have been placed with or near individualhuman remains at the time of death or later as part of the deathrite or ceremony. Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeologyand Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e),there is a relationship of shared group identity that can bereasonably traced between these associated funerary objects andthe Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation,South Dakota; the Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; theAssiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation,Montana; and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North and SouthDakota.This notice has been sent to officials of the Cheyenne RiverSioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; theSpirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribesof the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana; and the StandingRock Sioux Tribe of North and South Dakota. Representatives ofany other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturallyaffiliated with these associated funerary objects should contactBarbara Isaac, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum ofArchaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 DivinityAvenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 495-2254, beforeOctober 12, 2000. Repatriation of the associated funerary objects to the culturallyaffiliated tribes may begin after that date if no additionalclaimants come forward.
Dated: August 18, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship andPartnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-23379 Filed 9-11-00; 8:45 am]
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