Notice of Inventory Completion: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) 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 August 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Caroline Crecelius, Repatriation Coordinator, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 1659 E. Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, telephone (573) 526-4249, email Caroline.Crecelius@dnr.mo.gov.

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 the MoDNR, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Based on the information available, human remains representing, at least, one individual have been reasonably identified. The inventory includes one partial human skull, representing one individual. The skull was discovered in a sand bar in a bend on the Missouri River in Sibley, Missouri, located in Ray County. The location of the discovery is across the river from Fort Osage National Historic Monument. Following examination on site by local law enforcement and medical examination staff, the Ray County coroner reached out to The Osage Nation to consult. The Osage Nation reached out to the MoDNR's repatriation coordinator about the case and, following consultation, the MoDNR took control of the remains from Ray County.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location of the human remains.

Determinations

The MoDNR has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• There is a reasonable connection between the human remains described in this notice and The Osage Nation.

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 a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the human remains in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 19, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the MoDNR 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. The MoDNR 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.