[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34318-34319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13595]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Rochester Museum & Science 
Center, Rochester, NY

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 the 
Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY. The human remains 
were removed from Point Spencer, 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 the 
Rochester Museum & Science Center professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Bering Straits Foundation, a non-profit 
organization representing the interests of the Bering Straits Native 
Corporation, Native Brevig Mission Native Corporation, Village of 
Brevig Mission, Native Village of Teller, Teller Native Corporation, 
Native Village of Wales, and Wales Native Corporation.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were recovered from a grave at Point Spencer, near Cape 
Prince of Wales, AK, by Lt. Phillip J. Launer. The human remains were 
donated to the Rochester Museum & Science Center in 1945. No known 
individual was identified. Funerary objects documented as being 
collected are missing from the museum collection.
    Physical examination of the human remains indicates they are of 
Native American ancestry. Point Spencer is located at the end of a sand 
spit on the south coast of the Seward Peninsula in Western Alaska. 
Archeological evidence

[[Page 34319]]

indicates a relatively stable population residing on the Seward 
Peninsula continuously for over 1,000 years. The 1893 U.S. Census 
listed a collective village on Point Spencer with a population of 485, 
of which 236 were Alaska Natives and 249 were foreign. The Alaska 
Native descendants of Point Spencer are members at the Native Village 
of Brevig Mission, Native Village of Teller, and Native Village of 
Wales.
    Officials of the Rochester Museum & Science Center 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 Rochester Museum & Science Center 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), there is 
a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the Native American human remains and the Bering Straits Native 
Corporation, Native Brevig Mission Native Corporation, Village of 
Brevig Mission, Native Village of Teller, Teller Native Corporation, 
Native Village of Wales, and Wales Native Corporation.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Gian 
Carlo Cervone, Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, 
Rocherster, NY 14607-2177, telephone (585) 271-4552, ext. 310, before 
July 17, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains to the Bering Straits 
Foundation on behalf of the Bering Straits Native Corporation, Native 
Brevig Mission Native Corporation, Village of Brevig Mission, Native 
Village of Teller, Teller Native Corporation, Native Village of Wales, 
and Wales Native Corporation may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Rochester Museum & Science Center is responsible for notifying 
the Bering Straits Foundation, Bering Straits Native Corporation, 
Native Brevig Mission Native Corporation, Village of Brevig Mission, 
Native Village of Teller, Teller Native Corporation, Native Village of 
Wales, and Wales Native Corporation that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 12, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-13595 Filed 6-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S