Notice2025-23179
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Michigan University, Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies, Kalamazoo, MI
Primary source
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Published
December 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Western Michigan University (WMU) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59201-59202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23179]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6725; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041485; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Michigan University,
Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies, Kalamazoo, 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), Western Michigan University (WMU) has
completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after January 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Britt Hartenberger, Institute for Intercultural and
Anthropological Studies, Western Michigan University, 1005 Moore Hall,
Kalamazoo, MI 49008, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5537273c21217b3d342721303b3730273230271522383c363d7b303120"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6002120914144e08011214050e02051207051220170d0903084e050415">[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 WMU,
and additional information on the determinations in this notice,
including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, 17 individuals have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In 1968, human
remains were removed from the Brainerd Ossuary (20AE61) in Valley
Township, Allegan County as part of an archaeological field school. In
May 2011, WMU consulted with the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians,
the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, and the
Saginaw
[[Page 59202]]
Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, and published a Notice of Inventory
Completion in the Federal Register (76 FR 28078). In July 2011, WMU
repatriated these human ancestors and associated artifacts to the
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
In December 2023, WMU discovered additional human remains from
Brainerd, deriving from the archaeological excavations and a set
donated by one of the amateurs. No new associated funerary objects were
found. The newly discovered skeletal collection consists of over 770
bone fragments, representing a minimum of 17 individuals ranging in age
from infants to older adults. The fragmentary nature of the collection
makes detailed age and sex assessments by individual difficult. No
known individuals were identified from the excavated or otherwise
obtained remains.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this
notice.
Determinations
WMU has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 17 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi
Indians of Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and
Indiana; and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after January 20, 2026. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, WMU must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the
human remains are considered a single request and not competing
requests. WMU is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: December 2, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23179 Filed 12-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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