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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 4798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01007]

[[Page 4798]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039314; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Michigan State University, East 
Lansing, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Michigan State University intends to 
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an 
unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with 
the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Judith Stoddart, Michigan State University, 287 Delta Court, 
East Lansing, MI 48824, telephone (517) 432-2524, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of 
Michigan State University, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one unassociated funerary object is a preserved textile fragment in 
plaster (catalog number 2002.29.27). The textile was removed from the 
Sumnerville Mound (20CS6) in Pokagon Township, Cass County, Michigan. 
The textile was likely removed from the mound in 1888 by Eliot Crane, 
who sold/gave away the objects recovered (most to the Kent Scientific 
Institute). We believe Crane gave some of these textiles to local 
collectors and eventually it made it into Donald Boudeman's collection, 
which was donated to the Michigan State University Museum in 1961 by 
Donna Boudeman after his passing. While the textile has been modified 
by placing it in plaster, no hazardous substances are known to have 
been used.

Determinations

    Michigan State University has determined that:
     The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or 
near human remains, and is connected, either at the time of death or 
later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of 
the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, 
Michigan and Indiana.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after February 18, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, Michigan State University must determine the 
most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. Michigan State University is responsible for 
sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting 
parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: January 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-01007 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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