[Federal Register: October 4, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 194)]
[Notices]
[Page 52058-52059]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of Fort Union Trading
Post National Historic Site, Williston, ND
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), 25 U.S.C.
3003 (d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects in the possession of the National Park
Service, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Williston, ND.
A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary
objects was made by National Park Service professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes
of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky
Boy Reservation, Crow Tribe, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of
Montana, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort
Berthold Reservation, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
Between 1969 and 1986, human remains representing seven individuals
were recovered from locations within the Fort Union Trading Post
National Historic Site. One of the seven individuals was removed by a
vandal in 1969. All bones except the skull were subsequently recovered
by the FBI and returned to the National Park Service. No known
individuals were identified. The associated funerary objects include
2,098 ceramic, glass, metal, shell, and stone beads; 58 leather
clothing fragments; 27 lead balls; 21 fragments of textile; 18 buttons;
12 iron projectile points, 11 animal and fish bones; six copper
bracelets; four earrings; four iron knives; four iron nails, hand
wrought and machine cut; four pebbles; two belts, in pieces; two
bottles, one whole and one fragment; two iron awls; two fragments of an
iron gun worm; two window glass fragments; one iron auger; one English-
style gunflint; one iron axe blade; one wood fragment; one worked
antler and iron hide scraper; one iron rod; one pigment stone; one
pigment sample in a dirt matrix; one piece of sheet copper; one leather
moccasin fragment; one tin cup, in fragments; one key; one shell
pendant; one rectangular tin box, in fragments; one glass tack; and one
brass thimble. Associated funerary objects date the time of death of
these individuals between 1867 and 1880.
Anthropometric data demonstrate a relationship between these
remains and Siouan-speaking populations of the Northern Plains,
including Assiniboine and Hidatsa. Letters from military officers
living in the area in 1868 state that both Assiniboine tribal members
and Hidatsa tribal members were permanent residents at the Fort Union
site after the facility was abandoned as a trading post in 1867.
Historical documents refer to the deaths of Assiniboine women and
children from Sioux raids during this time period. Between 1870 and
1884, a Hidatsa band led by Crow-Flies-High resided a few hundred
meters east of the Fort Union site. They suffered from Sioux raids as
well. During consultation, representatives of the Assiniboine and Sioux
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine
Tribes of Montana, and Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold
Reservation stated their history indicates an affiliation with the
human remains and associated funerary objects recovered from the Fort
Union Trading Post site.
[[Page 52059]]
Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the National
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of seven
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the National Park
Service have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A),
the 2,293 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. Lastly, officials of the
National Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001
(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and
associated funerary objects and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the
Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of
Montana, and Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Assiniboine and Sioux
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Chippewa-Cree Indians of
the Rocky Boy Reservation, Crow Tribe, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine
Tribes of Montana, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Three Affiliated Tribes
of the Fort Berthold Reservation, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
Indians. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated
funerary objects should contact Paul Hedren, Superintendent, Fort Union
Trading Post National Historic Site, R.R. 3, Box 71, Williston, ND
58801; telephone: (701) 572-9083 before November 4, 1996. Repatriation
to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian
Reservation, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of Montana, and Three
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation may begin after that
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: September 30, 1996,
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-25472 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
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