[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6131-6132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02223]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16405; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK, 
and the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, University of 
Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, 
Chugach National Forest and the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State 
Museum (Burke Museum), University of Washington, in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the Chugach National Forest. If no 
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural 
items 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 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Chugach National Forest at 
the address in this notice by March 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Terri Marceron, Chugach National Forest, 161 East 1st Ave., 
Door 8, Anchorage, AK 99501, telephone (907) 743-9525, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, 
AK, and in the physical custody of the Burke Museum, Seattle, WA, that 
meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 
3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 6132]]

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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In 1933, Drs. Kaj Birket-Smith and Frederica de Laguna performed 
archeological survey and excavations in Prince William Sound, AK, under 
the auspices of University of Pennsylvania Museum and the Danish 
National Museum. The University of Pennsylvania Museum and the Danish 
National Museum transferred objects from the expedition to the Burke 
Museum in 1935. There was no archival documentation included with the 
transferred materials. In 2011, it was brought to the Burke Museum's 
attention that these objects could be funerary objects. During tribal 
consultation, it was brought to the Burke Museum's attention that two 
of these sites, 49-COR-001 and 49-SEW-048, were located on Chugach 
Forest Service land at the time of excavation. Site 49-COR-001 has 
since been patented to the Chugach Alaska Corporation.
    In 1933, cultural items were removed from 49-COR-001 during 
systematic excavations in Prince William Sound, AK, by Drs. Kaj Birket-
Smith and Frederica de Laguna. Based on archeological records and 
reports, 12 of the transferred cultural items were found to be in close 
proximity to known burials, or were identified through consultation as 
typical funerary objects. The 12 unassociated funerary objects are: 1 
grinding stone, 2 slate awls, 1 bone harpoon point, 1 bird bone awl, 2 
bird bone tubes, 1 bird bone tool, 1 modified bird bone fragment, 1 
unmodified bear tooth, 1 lot of shell beads, and 1 bone bead.
    Site 49-COR-001 was a main village for one of the eight original 
Chugach tribes (de Laguna 1956). Ethnographic evidence indicates that 
49-COR-001 is ancestral to the present day Chugach villages. 
Additionally, oral tradition and ethnographic information presented 
during consultation supports this affiliation with the Chugach 
villages.
    In 1933, cultural items removed from 49-SEW-048 during systematic 
excavations in Prince William Sound, AK, by Drs. Kaj Birket-Smith and 
Frederica de Laguna were placed in the Burke Museum. The unassociated 
funerary object is one canoe, which is currently in 12 pieces.
    Site 49-SEW-048 is in the territory of the Kiniklik people (de 
Laguna 1956). Edmond Meany, who had previously worked in the area, 
noted that canoes were traditionally placed with the remains as part of 
burial practices (de Laguna 1956). Archeological evidence indicates 
that 49-SEW-048 is ancestral to the present day Chugach villages. 
Additionally, oral tradition and ethnographic information presented 
during consultation supports this affiliation with the Chugach 
villages.
    Archeological data, ethnographic information, and oral tradition 
all support these sites being ancestral to the present-day Chugach 
villages of the Native Village of Eyak (Cordova), the Native Village of 
Chenega (aka Chanega), and the Native Village of Tatitlek.

Determinations Made by the Chugach National Forest and the Burke Museum

    Officials of the Chugach National Forest and the Burke Museum have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 13 cultural items 
described above are 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Native Village of Eyak (Cordova), 
the Native Village of Chenega (aka Chanega), and the Native Village of 
Tatitlek.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Terri Marceron, Chugach National Forest, 161 
East 1st Ave., Door 8, Anchorage, AK 99501, telephone (907) 743-9525, 
email [email protected], by March 6, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Native Village of Eyak (Cordova), 
the Native Village of Chenega (aka Chanega), and the Native Village of 
Tatitlek may proceed. By signed delegated authority, and on behalf of 
the Native Village of Eyak, the Native Village of Chenega, and the 
Native Village of Tatitlek, items will be repatriated through the 
Chugach Alaska Corporation.
    The Chugach National Forest is responsible for notifying the Native 
Village of Eyak (Cordova), the Native Village of Chenega (aka Chanega), 
and the Native Village of Tatitlek that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 14, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-02223 Filed 2-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P