[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 164 (Friday, August 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48668-48669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16777]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological 
Repository, Kodiak, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 
Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, AK. The human 
remains were removed from the area of Harvester Island in the Kodiak 
Island archipelago, 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.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Alutiiq 
Museum and Archaeological Repository professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of Koniag, Inc. and Native Village of Larsen Bay.
    In the 1970s or 1980s, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the Harvester Island area of Uyak Bay, in 
the Kodiak archipelago, AK. The cranium was painted yellow at some 
point after collection. In June 2006, the cranium was mailed 
anonymously to the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository with a 
note that it was collected ``on or around Harvester Island.'' No known 
individual was

[[Page 48669]]

identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Harvester Island lies at the mouth of Uyak Bay on southwestern 
Kodiak Island, is privately owned, and is not known to hold any 
archeological sites. However, 49-KAR-00025, a site on the mainland 
shore of Uyak Bay directly adjacent to Harvester Island, is a large 
prehistoric village site known to have contained burial features with 
preserved human remains from both the Kachemak and Koniag traditions. 
In the 1960s, the 49-KAR-00025 site started eroding badly and 
depositing materials on the adjacent beach. It is uncertain where the 
human remains from the ``Harvester Island area'' were collected, but 
are most likely from the 49-KAR-00025 site. The human remains are 
reasonably believed to be Native American and most closely related to 
the Kodiak Alutiiq people. Specifically, the human remains are from an 
area traditionally used by members of Koniag, Inc. and Native Village 
of Larsen Bay.
    Officials of the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Alutiiq Museum and 
Archaeological Repository also have determined that, 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 
Koniag, Inc. and Native Village of Larsen Bay.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Sven 
Haakanson, Jr., Executive Director, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological 
Repository, 215 Mission Rd., Suite 101, Kodiak, AK 99615, telephone 
(907) 486-7004, before September 24, 2007. Repatriation of the human 
remains to Koniag, Inc. and Native Village of Larsen Bay may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository is responsible for 
notifying Koniag, Inc. and Native Village of Larsen Bay that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 6, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-16777 Filed 8-23-07; 8:45 am]
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