[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80394-80395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33016]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alaska State Office, Bureau of 
Land Management, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management 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 Alaska 
State Office, Bureau of Land Management. Repatriation of the human 
remains to the Indian tribes 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 Alaska 
State Office, Bureau of Land Management, at the address below by 
January 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert E. King, Alaska State NAGPRA Coordinator, Bureau 
of Land Management, 222 W. 7th Avenue, Box 13, Anchorage, AK 99513-
7599, telephone (907) 271-5510.

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 
control of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that are housed at the 
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL (Field Museum). The human 
remains were removed from Cherni Island, Aleutians East Borough, AK, in 
1952, which was managed by the BLM at that time. The human remains have 
since been stored at the Field Museum.
    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 Alaska 
State Office, BLM professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove; Native Village of 
Belkofski; Native Village of False Pass; Native Village of Nelson 
Lagoon; Pauloff Harbor Village; Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point 
Village; and the Native Village of Unga (hereinafter referred to as 
``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1952, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Cherni Island, AK. According to Field Museum records, 
the human remains were removed by Robert

[[Page 80395]]

Jones, Jr. of Cold Bay, AK, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and presented to the museum in 1953. The human remains were 
subsequently stored by the museum and remain at that facility. In 2008, 
in an effort to determine control of the human remains, the Field 
Museum contacted the Alaska State Office, BLM concerning ownership of 
Cherni Island in 1952. Based on BLM land records, the land from which 
the remains were collected was under BLM management in 1952, and had 
been until 1984, when the lands were conveyed to Native Alaskan 
allottees. Because the land was managed by the BLM at the time the 
human remains were collected, the Alaska State Office, BLM assumed 
control of the collection for the purposes of NAGPRA. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on geographical location, condition, and morphology, the 
human remains are determined to be Native American. Cherni Island is a 
small, presently uninhabited, island located about 25 miles south of 
King Cove, AK, in the Aleutians East Borough. Due to the continuity of 
populations for thousands of years in the eastern Aleutian Islands, as 
demonstrated by archeological studies and oral traditions, the human 
remains represent an individual likely to be directly related to Native 
American tribal members who reside today in the same geographic 
location.

Determinations Made by the Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land 
Management

    Officials of the Alaska State Office, BLM have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
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 members of The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Robert 
E. King, Alaska State NAGPRA Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 
222 W. 7th Avenue, Box 13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599, telephone (907) 
271-5510, before January 23, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains to 
The Tribes may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management is responsible 
for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 20, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-33016 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
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