[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57626-57627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23021]


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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, USDA Forest Service, 
Ketchikan, 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 
Tongass National Forest, USDA Forest Service, Ketchikan, 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. The National

[[Page 57627]]

Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by USDA Forest 
Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Cape Fox Corporation, representing the Saanya Kwaan Tlingit for the 
purposes of repatriation; Organized Village of Saxman; Sealaska 
Corporation; and Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes.
    On August 13, 1981, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered by a USDA Forest Service employee from the beach in front of 
the Indian Point Village site, Revillagigedo Island, AK. The human 
remains, consisting of a single femur, were transferred to the USDA 
Forest Service area archeologist the next day. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Morphometric analysis indicates the remains are from a Native 
American male. Ethnographic information indicates that Indian Point 
Village was settled by two families representing the Eagle and Killer-
Whale clans within the traditional territory of the Saanya Kwaan 
Tlingit. Charlie Sehayett, also called Naha Charlie, Chief of the Eagle 
clan, is known to have been buried at the Indian Point Village site. 
The cemetery at Indian Point Village was vandalized prior to 1981. The 
Cape Fox Corporation has presented a claim for these remains on behalf 
of the lineal descendants of Charlie Sehayett and the Saanya Kwaan 
Tlingit.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the USDA 
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 on Native American ancestry. Officials of the USDA Forest 
Service 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 human remains and the Cape Fox Corporation, 
representing the Saanya Kwaan Tlingit.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cape Fox Corporation, 
Organized Village of Saxman, Sealaska Corporation, and Central Council 
of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains should contact Tom Puchlerz, Forest Supervisor, Tongass 
National Forest, Federal Building, Ketchikan, AK 99901, telephone (907) 
225-3101, before October 11, 2002. Repatriation of the human remains to 
the Cape Fox Corporation, representing the Saanya Kwaan Tlingit, may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 12, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-23021 Filed 9-10-02; 8:45 am]
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