Notice2023-18133
Notice of Inventory Completion: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 23, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Vassar College has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any Indian Tribe. The human remains were removed from unknown geographic locations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57473-57474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18133]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0036433; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Vassar College has completed an inventory of
human remains and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation
between the human remains and any Indian Tribe. The human remains were
removed from unknown geographic locations.
DATES: Disposition of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after September 22, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Brian Daly, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Avenue,
Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, telephone (845) 437-5310, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0b2a2b4b1bca990a6b1a3a3b1a2feb5b4a5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3d1c1d7d2dfcaf3c5d2c0c0d2c19dd6d7c6">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 Vassar
College. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice. Additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in the inventory or related records held by Vassar
College.
Description
Human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were
removed from unknown geographic locations. During the 1920s, the human
remains (7; 8; 9; 14; 24) were acquired by Vassar College's Natural
History and Social Museums. After the museums dissolved in the 1960s,
the human remains were acquired by the Anthropology and Biology
Departments. Human remains located in the Biology and Anthropology
Department teaching collections were examined for visual and
statistical markers of Native American affinities, with results
reported on December 21, 2020. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.16, the Secretary of the Interior may make a
recommendation for a transfer of control of the culturally
unidentifiable human remains. In June of 2023, Vassar College requested
that the Review Committee consider a proposal to transfer control of
the human remains in this notice to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
of Michigan and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. The Review
Committee, acting pursuant to its responsibility under 25 U.S.C.
3006(c)(5), considered the request at its June 2023 meeting and
recommended to the Secretary that the proposed transfer of control
proceed. A July 2023 letter on behalf of the Secretary of Interior from
the Designated Federal Official transmitted the Secretary's independent
review and concurrence with the Review Committee that:
<bullet> Vassar College consulted with every appropriate Indian
Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization,
<bullet> None of the consulted and notified Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations objected to the proposed transfer of
control, and
<bullet> Vassar College may proceed with the agreed upon transfer
of control of the culturally unidentifiable human remains to the
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin.
Transfer of control is contingent on the publication of a Notice of
Inventory Completion in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills that
requirement.
Determinations
Officials of Vassar College have determined that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice are Native American based on biological evidence.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of five individuals of
Native American ancestry.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American
human remains and any present-day Indian Tribe.
<bullet> Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.10(g)(2) and 10.16, the disposition
of the human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and the Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin.
Request for Disposition
Written requests for disposition of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in
ADDRESSES. Requests for disposition may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.
2. 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, or who shows that the requestor is an aboriginal land
Indian Tribe.
Disposition of the human remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after September 22, 2023. If competing
requests for disposition are received, Vassar College must determine
the most appropriate requestor prior to disposition. Requests for joint
disposition of the human remains are considered a single request and
not competing requests. Vassar College is responsible for sending a
copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9 and
10.11.
[[Page 57474]]
Dated: August 16, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-18133 Filed 8-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 23, 2023.
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