[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36671-36672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15577]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Michigan University,
Anthropology Department, Kalamazoo, 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 and associated funerary
objects in the possession of Western Michigan University, Anthropology
Department, Kalamazoo, MI. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from Kent County, 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 and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
[[Page 36672]]
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Western
Michigan University professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan,
and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
In 1984, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals
were removed from the Front and Leonard Street intersection, Kent
County, MI, during the excavation of a building foundation. George
Davis, then president of the Wright L. Coffinberry Chapter of the
Michigan Archaeological Society, recovered as much of the material as
possible after they had tumbled from the shovel of the tractor during
the construction. It is not clear how or why they were transferred to
Western Michigan University. No known individuals were identified. The
five associated funerary objects are three turtle shell fragments, a
badly rusted nail, and a kaolin pipe stem fragment.
The human remains were determined to be of Native American ancestry
based on skeletal and dental morphology. The determination of an early
19th century date is based on typology of the kaolin pipe and the close
proximity of these remains to a known 19th century Ottawa settlement,
Noondays Village (20KT114). Consequently, the preponderance of
osteological, historical, and consultation evidence connects the
remains found at Front Avenue and Leonard Street to the Little River
Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan.
In 1990, human remains representing a minimum of six individuals
were removed from Riverside Drive, Lowell, Kent County, MI. The remains
were uncovered during installation of a fire hydrant and water main.
Upon discovery, Dr. Robert Sundick was called to the site to conduct an
excavation of the remains. After completion, the remains were sent with
Sundick to Western Michigan University for curation and analysis. The
68 associated funerary objects are 1 leather garment fragment decorated
with small round cuprous brooches, 1 decorative cuprous item (possible
ear wheel fragment), 3 cuprous Saturn-shaped bells, 8 wrought iron
nails with remnants of wood which may be remains of a coffin, 53 glass
beads (representing 27 black glass tubular beads and 26 purple glass
seed beads), 1 small bag of very fragmented faunal remains, and 1
pottery sherd.
The human remains were determined to be of Native American ancestry
based on skeletal and dental morphology. They were dated to the early
19th century based on analysis of the garment fragment, the presence of
glass trade beads, and typology of the other associated funerary
objects.
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan, are well-
documented as occupying the Grand River Valley since at least the 17th
century. All of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described above from the Kent County sites are, by a preponderance of
the evidence, culturally affiliated with the Little River Band of
Ottawa Indians, Michigan, whose ancestors include the Grand River
Ottawa Bands.
Officials of Western Michigan University have determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described above
represent the physical remains of eight individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of Western Michigan University also have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 73 objects described above
are 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. Lastly, officials of Western Michigan University have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship
of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and the
Little River Bands of Ottawa Indians, Michigan.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact LouAnn Wurst, Department of Anthropology,
Western Michigan University, 1005 Moore Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008,
telephone (269) 387-2753, before July 28, 2010. Repatriation of the
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Little River Band
of Ottawa Indians, Michigan, may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Western Michigan University is responsible for notifying the Little
River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan, and the Little Traverse Bay
Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan, that this notice has been published.
Dated: June 22, 2010
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-15577 Filed 6-25-10; 8:45 am]
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