[Federal Register: April 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 77)]
[Notices]
[Page 20330-20331]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ap01-99]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the U.S.
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Badlands National
Park, SD

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 and associated
funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Department of the
Interior, National Park Service, Badlands National Park, Interior, SD.
    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
National Park Service unit that has control or possession of these
Native American human remains and

[[Page 20331]]

associated funerary objects. The Assistant Director, Cultural Resources
Stewardship and Partnerships is not responsible for the determinations
within this notice.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains has been
made by professional staff of the National Park Service in consultation
with representatives of the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River
Reservation; Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian
Reservation, Montana; Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian
Reservation of Montana; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne
River Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow
Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Tribe of Montana; Devils Lake
Sioux Tribe of the Devils Lake Sioux Reservation, North Dakota;
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
of the Lower Brule Cheyenne Tribe; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux Tribe of
the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe
of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe of North & South Dakota; and Yankton Sioux Tribe of South
Dakota.
    In November 1958, human remains representing one individual were
discovered eroding out of a cut bank on park property. Evidence of a
hearth was noticed adjacent to where the remains were discovered. A
partial skull with five intact maxillary teeth and a fragmentary
vertebra were removed by the park's chief ranger and formally
accessioned into the park's museum collection on June 28, 1959. The
rest of the remains were left in place.
    The skull exhibits retreating zygomatics, a canine fossa, lack of
keeling, and rapid occlusal attrition, all traits common in American
Indian populations. Though the oval window is also visible, the remains
are most likely Native American. This individual was probably between
16-22 years old at the time of death, based on the eruptions of the
third molars, molar root development, dental attrition, and basilar
suture closure. The orbital margin, mastoid process, nuchal area, and
tooth size indicate that the individual may have been male. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human occupation of the Badlands National Park area is believed to
date back approximately 11,000 years. The archeological record and oral
traditions indicate that the Arikara people camped in the secluded
valleys of Badlands National Park year round. Eroding out of the stream
banks today are the rocks and charcoal of their campfires. About 150
years ago, the Great Sioux Nation displaced many of the other tribes
from the northern prairie.
    Based on the above mentioned information, the superintendent of
Badlands National Park has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical
remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. The
superintendent of Badlands National Park also has 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 Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold
Reservation, North Dakota; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne
River Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow
Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Devils Lake Sioux Tribe of the Devils
Lake Sioux Reservation, North Dakota; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of
South Dakota; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Cheyenne
Tribe; Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota;
Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South
Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; and
Yankton
Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Arapaho Tribe of the
Wind River Reservation; Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian
Reservation of Montana; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne
River Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow
Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Tribe of Montana; Devils Lake
Sioux Tribe of the Devils Lake Sioux Reservation, North Dakota;
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
of the Lower Brule Cheyenne Tribe; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux Tribe of
the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe
of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe of North & South Dakota; and Yankton Sioux Tribe of South
Dakota.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact William
R. Supernaugh, Superintendent, Badlands National Park, P.O. Box 6,
Route 240, Interior, SD 57750, telephone (605) 433-5280, before.
Repatriation of the human remains to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the
Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of
the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of
the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Devils Lake Sioux Tribe of
the Devils Lake Sioux Reservation, North Dakota; Flandreau Santee Sioux
Tribe of South Dakota; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule
Cheyenne Tribe; Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South
Dakota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation,
South Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; and
Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: March 27, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-9751 Filed 4-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F