Notice2022-08121
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Big Hole National Battlefield, Wisdom, MT
Primary source
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Published
April 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Big Hole National Battlefield has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to Big Hole National Battlefield. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 73 (Friday, April 15, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22576-22577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08121]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033704; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Big Hole National Battlefield, Wisdom, MT
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service,
Big Hole National Battlefield has completed an inventory of human
remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human
remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes
or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives
of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in
this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human
remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request
to Big Hole National Battlefield. If no additional requestors come
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated
funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.
DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to Big Hole National Battlefield at the address
in this notice by May 16, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Thede, Superintendent, Big
Hole National Battlefield, P.O. Box 237, Wisdom, MT 59761 or Nez Perce
National Historical Park, 39063 US Hwy. 95, Lapwai, ID 83540, telephone
(208) 843-7011, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f5c5b4a594a705b474a4b4a6f415f5c01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="36454253405369425e5352537658464518515940">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects under the control of the U.S. Department of
the Interior, National Park Service, Big Hole National Battlefield,
Wisdom, MT, and in the physical custody of Nez Perce National
Historical Park, Lapwai, ID. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from Big Hole National Battlefield, Beaverhead
County, MT.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
Superintendent, Big Hole National Battlefield.
[[Page 22577]]
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by National
Park Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of
the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation [previously listed as
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon]; and the Nez
Perce Tribe [previously listed as Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho] (hereafter
referred to as ``The Tribes'').
History and Description of the Remains
At an unknown date between 1915 and 1923, human remains
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from Big Hole
National Battlefield in Beaverhead County, MT, by Thomas C. Sherill,
summer caretaker of the Battlefield. The human remains are a partial
braid of human hair. When Mr. Sherrill passed away in 1927, the human
remains were transferred to his nephew, Theodore E. Sherill. In 1966,
they were purchased from Theodore Sherill by the National Park Service.
No known individual was identified. The 60 associated funerary objects
are 56 blue glass trade beads and four red glass trade beads.
At the time of acquisition park managers were under the belief that
the human remains were those of a young Euro-American female who was
allegedly living among the Nez Perce during the battle at Big Hole on
August 9, 1877. This belief was based on a story perpetuated by Thomas
C. Sherrill and his nephew of the presence of a young, blonde or light-
brown haired female who perished during the battle at Big Hole and was
intentionally buried by the Nez Perce.
National Park Service professional staff conducted a thorough and
detailed analysis of the partial braid of hair and have determined that
it is in fact dark brown to black in color, not light brown. It seems
likely the lighter color is the result of eumelanin pigment in the hair
breaking down over time, which is consistent with inhumation in the
wet, oxidizing conditions found where the braid was collected. The
texture of the hair in the interior portions of the braid is also very
coarse. The dark color, taken in context with the very coarse and thick
texture of the hair, make it very unlikely to be representative of a
young, blonde-to-light-brown-haired female of Euro-American descent.
The first and only known reference to the presence of a young
female of Euro-American descent at the Big Hole battle is from Thomas
C. Sherrill himself. National Park Service professional staff have
conducted a thorough and complete review of all known historical
documentation (including first-hand accounts of both military and Nez
Perce participants) relating to the battle at Big Hole and the larger
Nez Perce War of 1877 and all archeological investigations conducted at
Big Hole National Battlefield and has concluded that there is no
credible evidence for the presence of a young female of Euro-American
descent at the battle of Big Hole in 1877.
Based on the review of all known historical and archeological
evidence, an analysis of the hair, the age and style of the beads found
with the hair, and the provenance of the finds, the human remains are
most likely that of an individual of Native American descent. The
origin of the find, eroding out of the riverbank adjacent to the
location of the 1877 Nez Perce encampment, is in keeping with the
historical and archeological documentation. There are numerous
historical accounts and Nez Perce oral tradition that the Nez Perce
buried their dead along the riverbank following the battle.
Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National
Park Service, Big Hole National Battlefield
Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park
Service, Big Hole National Battlefield have determined that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of
Native American ancestry.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 60 objects described
in this notice 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.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects and The Tribes.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to Stephen Thede, Superintendent, Big Hole
National Battlefield, P.O. Box 237, Wisdom, MT 59761 or Nez Perce
National Historical Park, 39063 US Hwy. 95, Lapwai, ID 83540, telephone
(208) 843-7011, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e5d5a4b584b715a464b4a4b6e405e5d00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c4f48594a596348545958597c524c4f125b534a">[email protected]</span></a>, by May 16, 2022. After that
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The
Tribes may proceed.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Big
Hole National Battlefield is responsible for notifying The Tribes that
this notice has been published.
Dated: April 7, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-08121 Filed 4-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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