[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43720-43721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18350]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[2253-665]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Homer Society of Natural History,
Pratt Museum, Homer, AK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum has
completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural
affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes.
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Homer
Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum. Repatriation of the human
remains to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional
claimants come forward.
DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the Homer
Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum at the address below by August
22, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Cusack-McVeigh, Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St., Homer,
AK 99603, telephone (907) 435-3338.
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 in the
possession of the Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum,
Homer, AK. The human remains were removed from Kachemak Bay, AK.
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. 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 Pratt
Museum professional Curator and the Office of History and Archaeology
for the State of Alaska, in consultation with representatives of the
Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Native Village of Nanwalek (IRA Council),
Ninilchik Village, Native Village of Port Graham, and Seldovia Village
Tribe. Through the consultation
[[Page 43721]]
process, and at the request of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Ninilchik
Indian Tribe, and the Native Village of Nanwalek (IRA Council), the
human remains described in this notice will be repatriated to the
Seldovia Village Tribe for reburial.
History and Description of the Remains
In 1982, a human remain representing one individual (HM-82-165-1)
was found at Bishop's Beach, Kachemak Bay, in Homer, AK. On February
11, 1982, the skull was brought to the museum by Teri Dobbs. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The card catalog indicates that the skull was found following a
mudslide, approximately 1 mile north of Bishop's Beach. Originally
identified as ``Caucasian,'' the museum now concludes that this single
cranium belongs to a person of ``Caucasian admixture, possibly
Caucasian-Negroid or Caucasian-Mongoloid''; the facial flattening
indicates Mongoloid (Asian or Native) characteristics. Based on the
general appearance and condition of the skull, death occurred anywhere
from 50 to 125 years ago. Although there are no known historic
cemeteries in the area, remains belonging to a Native Alaskan were
subsequently recovered from the same general location as this skull.
The Native Alaskan community in this area has a history of mixed
European and Native Alaskan heritage. For example, populations having
Russian fathers and Native Alaskan mothers were common. Therefore, the
museum believes the preponderance of the evidence shows that these
remains are Native Alaskan. This determination of Native Alaskan
ancestry is outlined in a December 17, 2010, report produced by the
Office of History and Archaeology.
In 1993, human remains representing one individual were recovered
from a bluff at Bishop's Beach, Kachemak Bay, in Homer, AK, by a
private individual. The human remains were given to the museum under a
1993 Gift Agreement (PM-1993-4). No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
The archeological and historical documentary evidence show that
Kachemak Bay was used by both Dena'ina Athabascan and Sugpiaq Alutiiq
ancestors. The relatively recent date for these crania (estimated
postmortem interval in the 50-125 year range) suggests that these two
individuals may have been associated with a nearby, large early 20th
century coal mining venture or an unmarked Native cemetery.
Determinations Made by the Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt
Museum
Officials of the Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum
have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
above represent the physical remains of two individuals of mixed Native
American ancestry.
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 the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Native Village of
Nanwalek (IRA Council), Ninilchik Village, Native Village of Port
Graham, and/or Seldovia Village Tribe.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the Native American human remains should
contact Dr. Cusack-McVeigh, Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St., Homer, AK
99603, telephone (907) 435-3338, before August 22, 2011. Repatriation
of the human remains to the Seldovia Village Tribe may proceed after
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Pratt Museum is responsible for notifying the Kenaitze Indian
Tribe, Native Village of Nanwalek (IRA Council), Ninilchik Village,
Native Village of Port Graham, and Seldovia Village Tribe that this
notice has been published.
Dated: July 14, 2011
Sangita Chari,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-18350 Filed 7-20-11; 8:45 am]
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