[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 24879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12291]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum of Natural History, 
Chicago, IL

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 
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. The human remains were 
removed from Karluk, Kodiak Island, 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 Field Museum 
of Natural History professional staff in consultation with professional 
staff of the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, AK, 
on behalf of Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Karluk; and Native Village 
of Larsen Bay.
    In 1893, employees of the Field Museum of Natural History purchased 
human remains representing one individual from Ward's Natural Science 
Establishment, Rochester, NY (Field Museum of Natural History accession 
number 407, catalog number 41471). No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains have been identified as Native American based on 
specific cultural and geographic attributions in Field Museum of 
Natural History records. The records identify the human remains as 
``Eskimo'' from an ``ancient dwelling at Karluk, Kodiak Isl., Alaska.'' 
The term ``Eskimo'' is used by anthropologists to refer to both the 
prehistoric and historic Native peoples of the Kodiak region, who are 
the ancestors of the present-day Alutiiq people. Specifically, the 
human remains are from an area of the Kodiak archipelago traditionally 
used by shareholders and citizens of Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of 
Karluk; and Native Village of Larsen Bay.
    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History 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 Field Museum of Natural History 
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.; Native 
Village of Karluk; 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 Helen 
Robbins, Repatriation Director, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 
South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605-2496, telephone (312) 665-
7317, before June 25, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains to 
Koniag, Inc.; Native Village of Karluk; and Native Village of Larsen 
Bay may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
Koniag, Inc., Native Village of Karluk, and Native Village of Larsen 
Bay that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 6, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-12291 Filed 5-22-09; 8:45 am]
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