[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68824-68825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27948]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-11514; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, Juneau, AK, and the University 
of Alaska, Museum of the North, Fairbanks, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, 
Tongass National Forest, and the University of Alaska, Museum of the 
North, have completed an inventory of human remains in consultation 
with the appropriate Indian tribe, and have determined that there is a 
cultural affiliation between the human remains and a present-day Indian 
tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Tongass 
National Forest. 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 Tongass 
National Forest at the address below by December 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Forrest Cole, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, 
648 Mission St, Ketchikan, AK 99901, telephone (907) 228-6281.

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 under 
the control of the USDA Tongass National Forest and in the possession 
of the University of Alaska, Museum of the North, Fairbanks, AK. The 
human remains were removed from the Tongass National Forest, near 
Juneau, 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 Museum 
of the North professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
Douglas Indian Association.

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime in 1964 or earlier, human remains representing, at 
minimum, two individuals were removed from the Taku Village Site, near 
Juneau, AK. The Taku Village site is located approximately 12 miles 
from Juneau, AK, on lands of the Tongass National Forest. The human 
remains consist of two skulls found in a grave at the extreme east end 
of the village, about 50 feet from the high water line of the beach. 
The grave was marked by a marble headstone and bore the inscription: 
``Johnny Age 25 years, Died February 1895 Erected by his brother 
William.'' The second individual buried in the grave is likely a woman. 
The gravesite may be described as a buried house, including a wooden 
floor, log sides, and three layers of hand-sawed planks for a roof. 
About six inches of soil covered the top layer of planks. A fence 
surrounded the grave and the marble headstone. One individual was 
identified by the grave marker; the other

[[Page 68825]]

individual was not identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American due to the 
nature of the burial and the location within the graveyard of the Taku 
Village. The Taku Village site was one of the primary villages 
inhabited by the Taku Tlingit until about 1926, with graves at the 
cemetery dating from 1895 to 1926. The Taku Village site and cemetery 
is located within the traditional territory of the Taku Tlingit, 
represented today by the Douglas Indian Association. Oral traditions 
confirm the affiliation of the Taku Tlingit with the Taku Village site 
and cemetery, and support the culturally affiliation with present day 
Douglas Indian Association.

Determinations Made by the USDA Tongass National Forest and the Museum 
of the North

    Officials of the USDA Tongass National Forest and the Museum of the 
North have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals 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 the Douglas Indian Association.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Forrest 
Cole, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, 648 Mission St, 
Ketchikan, AK 99901, telephone (907) 228-6281, before December 17, 
2012. Repatriation of the human remains to the Douglas Indian 
Association may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Tongass National Forest is responsible for notifying the 
Douglas Indian Association that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 16, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-27948 Filed 11-15-12; 8:45 am]
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