[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63884-63885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27392]


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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