Notice of Inventory Completion: Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Illinois State Museum 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 the Illinois State Museum. 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 the Illinois State Museum at the address in this notice by October 13, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Brooke Morgan, Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703, telephone (217) 785-8930, email Brooke.Morgan@illinois.gov.

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 Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Grundy County, IL.

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 museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Illinois State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan [previously listed as Huron Potawatomi, Inc.]; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. In addition, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation [previously listed as Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas] were invited to consult, but they did not participate. Hereafter, the Indian Tribes listed in the section are referred to as “The Consulted and Invited Tribes.”

History and Description of the Remains

On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from a burial in Grundy County, IL. The human remains were previously at the Grundy County Historical Society. The Society's records indicate the human remains may have been donated in the 1920s. In 1998, the human remains were transferred to the Illinois State Museum. The human remains belong to a child 3-12 years old and of indeterminate sex. No known individual was identified. The four associated funerary objects are three round metal brooches attached to a braid of hair and one lot of fabric.

The metal trade artifacts and fabric suggest a Late Historic date (ca. 1760-1820) for the burial. Based on these artifacts, historical records, and oral traditional information, these human remains are connected to the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk/Winnebago, and Kickapoo, all of whom were in the Grundy County area during this time.

Determinations Made by the Illinois State Museum

Officials of the Illinois State Museum have determined that:

• 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.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the four 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.
• 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 Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan [previously listed as Huron Potawatomi, Inc.]; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation [previously listed as Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas]; and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (hereafter referred to as “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 Dr. Brooke Morgan, Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703, telephone (217) 785-8930, email Brooke.Morgan@illinois.gov, by October 13, 2021. 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 Illinois State Museum is responsible for notifying The Consulted and Invited Tribes that this notice has been published.