[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71676-71677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28004]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson 
Center, Anchorage, 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 
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, Anchorage, AK. The human remains 
were removed from a site approximately 80 miles from Kodiak, 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 
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center professional staff. Consultations 
with representatives from the Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc.; Ayakulik, Inc.; 
Kaguyak Village; Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Akhiok; Native Village 
of Larsen Bay; and Uyak, Incorporated have yet to occur.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from ``about eighty miles from Kodiak, near 
Amik Bay'' in Kodiak Island, AK, by Kathy Whitman of Anchorage. On May 
4, 1971, Ms. Whitman donated the human remains to the Anchorage Museum. 
Sometime after it was collected, masking tape was used to stabilize the 
lower mandible. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The Anchorage Museum's records report the human remains were found 
near ``Amik Bay'' in Kodiak. According to multiple references, Amik Bay 
is not recorded as a place name. However, there is an Amik Island at 
the mouth of Moser Bay, which is in Alitak Bay, and is approximately 80 
miles from Kodiak. Although it is uncertain where the human remains 
were precisely collected and whether they were found without the means 
of conducting excavations, it is reasonably believed that the location 
is Alitak Bay and not ``Amik Bay,'' as stated in the museum accession 
records. Based on their age, the human remains are reasonably believed 
to be of Native American descent and closely related to the Alutiiq 
people. Specifically, the human remains are from an area traditionally 
used by the members of Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc.; Native Village of Akhiok; 
Ayakulik, Inc.; Kaguyak Village; Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Larsen 
Bay; and Uyak, Inc.
    Officials of the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson 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 Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson 
Center 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 Akhiok-Kaguyak, 
Inc.; Native Village of Akhiok; Ayakulik, Inc.; Kaguyak Village; 
Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Larsen Bay; and Uyak, Inc.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Darian 
LaTocha, Collections Manager, Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, 121 
West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501, telephone (907) 343-6197, before 
December 26, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains to the Akhiok-
Kaguyak, Inc.; Native Village of Akhiok; Ayakulik, Inc.; Kaguyak 
Village; Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Larsen Bay; and Uyak, Inc. may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

[[Page 71677]]

    The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center is responsible for 
notifying Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc.; Native Village of Akhiok; Ayakulik, 
Inc.; Kaguyak Village; Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Larsen Bay; and 
Uyak, Inc. that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 23, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-28004 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
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