[Federal Register: October 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 207)]
[Notices]
[Page 63884-63885]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc00-111]

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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 Control of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and in the Possession of the Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh, WI

AGENCY: National Park Service

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 control of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and in
the possession of the Oshkosh Public Museum, Oshkosh, WI.
    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
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has possession of these
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within
this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary
objects was made by Oshkosh Public Museum professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Menominee Indian Tribe of
Wisconsin.
    In 1926, Oshkosh Public Museum staff Arthur Kannenberg excavated
the graves of two individuals located on the Menominee Indian
Reservation in Keshena, WI. The remains of one individual, believed to
have been those of Chief Oshkosh, were re-interred at a new location in
Oshkosh, WI shortly thereafter. The remains of the second individual,
believed to have been those of one of Chief Oshkosh's wives, were not
re-located. Two cervical vertebrae were removed from one of the two
graves and donated to the Oshkosh Public Museum by an unknown person,
presumably Mr. Kannenberg, at an unknown time after 1926. An unknown
person, presumably Mr. Kannenberg, retained remnants of Chief Oshkosh's
original casket, including pieces of glass, metal, cloth, wood, beads,
three nails, and scraps of beaded cloth. These nine funerary objects
were donated to the Oshkosh Public Museum, presumably by Mr.
Kannenberg, at an unknown time between 1926-1945. At an unknown time,
but presumably during the 1926 exhumation, 11 funerary objects
consisting of a wooden spool, 8 buttons, shears, and 1 nail were
collected from the grave of a wife of Chief Oshkosh. They were donated
to the Oshkosh Public Museum by an unknown person, but presumed to be
Mr. Kannenberg, at an unknown time between 1926-1945.
    A contemporaneous account of the exhumation notes the
identification of the remains as Chief Oshkosh based upon surface
markers of ``three rocks marking the graves of the old chief and two of
his wives. Several graves in this vicinity were opened, those of the
wives being identified by earrings, brooches and jewelry in the one,
and shears, needles, buttons and a spool in the other.''
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Oshkosh
Public Museum have 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. Officials of the Oshkosh Public
Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the
20 objects listed 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. While the likely identity of the
individual reported in this notice has been determined, officials of
the Oshkosh Public Museum have not been able to trace a direct and
unbroken line of descent to a particular individual, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2 (b)(1). Lastly, officials of the Oshkosh Public Museum have
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 associated funerary objects and the
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Menominee Indian
Tribe of Wisconsin. Any lineal descendent and representatives of any
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact
Joan Lloyd, Registrar, Oshkosh Public Museum, 1331 Algoma Boulevard,
Oshkosh, WI 54901, telephone (920) 424-4747, before November 24, 2000.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Menominee Indian Tribe

[[Page 63885]]

of Wisconsin may begin after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.

    Dated: October 6, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-27392 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F