[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43720-43721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18350]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Homer Society of Natural History, 
Pratt Museum, Homer, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum has 
completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Homer 
Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum. Repatriation of the human 
remains to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional 
claimants come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the Homer 
Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum at the address below by August 
22, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Cusack-McVeigh, Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St., Homer, 
AK 99603, telephone (907) 435-3338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum, 
Homer, AK. The human remains were removed from Kachemak Bay, 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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Pratt 
Museum professional Curator and the Office of History and Archaeology 
for the State of Alaska, in consultation with representatives of the 
Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Native Village of Nanwalek (IRA Council), 
Ninilchik Village, Native Village of Port Graham, and Seldovia Village 
Tribe. Through the consultation

[[Page 43721]]

process, and at the request of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Ninilchik 
Indian Tribe, and the Native Village of Nanwalek (IRA Council), the 
human remains described in this notice will be repatriated to the 
Seldovia Village Tribe for reburial.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1982, a human remain representing one individual (HM-82-165-1) 
was found at Bishop's Beach, Kachemak Bay, in Homer, AK. On February 
11, 1982, the skull was brought to the museum by Teri Dobbs. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The card catalog indicates that the skull was found following a 
mudslide, approximately 1 mile north of Bishop's Beach. Originally 
identified as ``Caucasian,'' the museum now concludes that this single 
cranium belongs to a person of ``Caucasian admixture, possibly 
Caucasian-Negroid or Caucasian-Mongoloid''; the facial flattening 
indicates Mongoloid (Asian or Native) characteristics. Based on the 
general appearance and condition of the skull, death occurred anywhere 
from 50 to 125 years ago. Although there are no known historic 
cemeteries in the area, remains belonging to a Native Alaskan were 
subsequently recovered from the same general location as this skull. 
The Native Alaskan community in this area has a history of mixed 
European and Native Alaskan heritage. For example, populations having 
Russian fathers and Native Alaskan mothers were common. Therefore, the 
museum believes the preponderance of the evidence shows that these 
remains are Native Alaskan. This determination of Native Alaskan 
ancestry is outlined in a December 17, 2010, report produced by the 
Office of History and Archaeology.
    In 1993, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from a bluff at Bishop's Beach, Kachemak Bay, in Homer, AK, by a 
private individual. The human remains were given to the museum under a 
1993 Gift Agreement (PM-1993-4). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The archeological and historical documentary evidence show that 
Kachemak Bay was used by both Dena'ina Athabascan and Sugpiaq Alutiiq 
ancestors. The relatively recent date for these crania (estimated 
postmortem interval in the 50-125 year range) suggests that these two 
individuals may have been associated with a nearby, large early 20th 
century coal mining venture or an unmarked Native cemetery.

Determinations Made by the Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt 
Museum

    Officials of the Homer Society of Natural History, Pratt Museum 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of two individuals of mixed Native 
American ancestry.
     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 the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Native Village of 
Nanwalek (IRA Council), Ninilchik Village, Native Village of Port 
Graham, and/or Seldovia Village Tribe.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the Native American human remains should 
contact Dr. Cusack-McVeigh, Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St., Homer, AK 
99603, telephone (907) 435-3338, before August 22, 2011. Repatriation 
of the human remains to the Seldovia Village Tribe may proceed after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Pratt Museum is responsible for notifying the Kenaitze Indian 
Tribe, Native Village of Nanwalek (IRA Council), Ninilchik Village, 
Native Village of Port Graham, and Seldovia Village Tribe that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: July 14, 2011
Sangita Chari,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-18350 Filed 7-20-11; 8:45 am]
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