[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17461-17462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8626]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Control of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National 
Forest, Anchorage, AK, and in the Possession of the Chugach National 
Forest and the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 17462]]

    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a) (3), of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items in the control of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK, and in the 
possession of the Chugach National Forest and the Anchorage Museum of 
History and Art, Anchorage, AK, which meet the definition of 
``unassociated funerary objects'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    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 the cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    The 1,672 objects are 1,651 glass trade beads, 19 dentalia shell 
beads, and 2 ivory hand-shaped pendants.
    In 1988, these cultural items were recovered with a burial at the 
Uqciuvit site at the western end of Esther Passage, AK, during a 
legally authorized excavation project contracted by Chugach National 
Forest. Uqciuvit is a prehistoric/early historic period Chugach Eskimo 
settlement in Prince William Sound. Based on archeological evidence, 
these cultural items from the Uqciuvit site have been dated to the 
early historic period, and specifically to the late 18th century. The 
human remains recovered from the burial were reinterred near their 
original burial location in 1988. Chugach National Forest is not in 
possession of the human remains from this burial site.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of Chugach 
National Forest have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2)(ii), these 1,672 cultural items listed above 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 and 
are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed 
from a specific burial site of a Native American individual. Officials 
of Chugach National Forest also have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can 
be reasonably traced between these unassociated funerary objects and 
the members of the Native Village of Chenega and the Native Village of 
Tatitlek, which are represented by Chugach Alaska Corporation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation, Chenega Corporation, Native Village of Chenega, Tatitlek 
Corporation, Native Village of Tatitlek, English Bay Corporation, 
Native Village of Nanwalek, Port Graham Corporation, Native Village of 
Port Graham, Eyak Corporation, and Native Village of Eyak. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Linda Finn Yarborough, Forest Archeologist, Chugach National 
Forest, 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 
743-9511, facsimile (907) 743-9477, before May 10, 2002. Repatriation 
of these unassociated funerary objects to the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: February 13, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-8626 Filed 4-9-02; 8:45 am]
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