[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68466-68467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27152]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16874; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology, 
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology at Indiana University has 
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects 
in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any 
Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
should submit a written request to the Indiana University NAGPRA 
Office. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control 
of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or 
Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
Indiana University NAGPRA Office at the address in this notice by 
December 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Jayne-Leigh Thomas, NAGPRA Director, Indiana University, 
NAGPRA Office, Student Building 318, 701 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, 
IN 47405, telephone (812) 856-5315, email [email protected].

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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Department of 
Anthropology at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. The human remains 
and associated funerary objects were removed from the vicinity of Point 
Barrow, North Slope Borough, 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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by Indiana University professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Native Village of Barrow 
Inupiat Traditional Government and the Inupiat Community of the Arctic 
Slope.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1921 and 1936, human remains representing, at minimum, 8 
individuals were recovered from an unknown location near Point Barrow, 
AK. These human remains were collected by Mollie Ward Greist, a native 
of Indiana who lived in Barrow, AK, from 1921-1936. The human remains 
were transferred to the Indiana University Glenn A. Black Laboratory of 
Archaeology in 1956, to the Mathers Museum of World Cultures in 1972, 
and then to the Department of Anthropology in 1990. The 1 associated 
funerary object is a fragment of oil soaked wood. No known individuals 
were identified. Catalog information indicates the affiliation of the 
remains to be ``Inuit'' or ``Eskimo.''
    The human remains were found in an area traditionally used by the 
Inupiat people. Accounts of Inupiat burials indicate that the human 
remains were placed into very shallow graves or were surface burials. 
Inupiat mortuary treatments also involved deceased individuals being 
wrapped in skins or furs and taken to a cemetery where they were placed 
on wood planks. Mollie Greist reported seeing hundreds of Native 
American skeletons lying on the ground near Point Barrow. A 
relationship of shared group identity can be reasonably traced between 
the human remains and the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Government 
and the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope based on traditional 
geography, archeological evidence, historical accounts, and on-going 
cultural traditions.

Determinations Made by Indiana University

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 8 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 1 object described 
in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the 
death rite or ceremony.
     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 Native Village of Barrow Inupiat 
Government and the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. 
Jayne-Leigh Thomas, NAGPRA Director, Indiana University, NAGPRA Office, 
Student Building 318, 701 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405, 
telephone (812) 856-5315, email [email protected], by December 17, 
2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Government and the 
Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope may proceed.

[[Page 68467]]

    Indiana University is responsible for notifying the Native Village 
of Barrow Inupiat Government and the Inupiat Community of the Arctic 
Slope that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 2, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-27152 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
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