[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50000-50001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20826]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
in the Possession of the Tongass National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, 
Petersburg, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of 
the

[[Page 50001]]

Tongass National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, Petersburg, AK.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by U.S. Forest 
Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Petersburg Indian Association and the Central Council of Tlingit and 
Haida Indian Tribes.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from the coast of Mitkof Island that faces Wrangell Narrows 
by an unidentified individual from Petersburg, AK. The remains were 
donated to Tongass National Forest, U.S. Forest Service in 1986. The 
condition of the remains suggests that they were less than 500 years 
old. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present. The archeological record of southeastern Alaska documents 
cultural continuity over the last 4,000 years, demonstrating that the 
Stikine Tlingit territory has included Mitkof Island throughout that 
period.
    Based on the results of morphometric analysis, the human remains 
are determined to be Native American. Ethnographic evidence indicates 
that Mitkof Island, where the remains were found, was within the 
traditional territory of the Stikine Tlingit at the time of deposition 
of the remains.
    The Petersburg Indian Association represents the Stikine Tlingit 
for the purposes of repatriation of human remains from this part of 
Alaska. The Petersburg Indian Association has identified Mitkof Island 
as part of the traditional occupation territory for the Stikine 
Tlingit. There is no evidence to indicate otherwise.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of one 
individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Forest 
Service have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(e), there is 
a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between these Native American human remains and the Petersburg Indian 
Association, representing the Stikine Tlingit. This notice has been 
sent to officials of the Petersburg Indian Association and the Central 
Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains should contact Carol Jorgensen, Assistant 
Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, 
AK, 99833, telephone (907) 772-3841, before September 15, 2000. 
Repatriation of the human remains to the Petersburg Indian Association, 
representing the Stikine Tlingit, may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 10, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-20826 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F