[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11631-11632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03607]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22723; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Thomas Burke Memorial Washington 
State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke 
Museum) has completed an inventory of human remains, 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 Burke Museum. 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

[[Page 11632]]

the request to the Burke Museum at the address in this notice by March 
27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849x2, 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 under 
the control of the Burke Museum, Seattle, WA. The human remains were 
removed from ``Arctic Alaska''.
    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 Burke Museum 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Inupiat 
Community of the Arctic Slope, the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat 
Traditional Government, the Native Village of Point Hope, and the North 
Slope Borough's Department of Inupiat History, Language and Culture, an 
entity that does not have standing under the law, but assists the 
tribes and Native Villages with repatriation efforts.

History and Description of the Remains

    On an unknown date prior to 1923, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from an unknown location in the 
Alaskan Arctic. The original museum catalog ledger information notes 
these human remains are from ``Arctic Alaska''. Based on where the 
catalog number entry (#3499) falls on the ledger, these human remains 
were brought to the museum prior to 1923. No known individuals were 
identified. No funerary objects are present.
    These human remains have been determined to be Native American 
based on geographical and biological information. Archeological and 
biological information suggest continuity between past populations and 
the modern Inupiat. These human remains exhibit characteristics of 
being collected from the surface, including bleaching and lichen 
adhered to the cranium and mandible. This is consistent with 
traditional Inupiat burial practices of laying the deceased on the 
surface or in boxes on the surface. The Inupiat are now members of the 
Atqasuk Village (Atkasook), Kaktovik Village (a.k.a. Barter Island), 
Native Village of Nuiqsut (a.k.a. Nooiksut), Native Village of Point 
Lay, Village of Anaktuvuk Pass, and Village of Wainwright, which are 
all represented by the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, Native 
Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, and Native Village of 
Point Hope.

Determinations Made by the Burke Museum

    Officials of the Burke Museum 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 the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, 
Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, and Native 
Village of Point Hope.

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 Peter 
Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 
98195, telephone (206) 685-3849 ext 2, email [email protected], by March 27, 
2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the Inupiat Community of 
the Arctic Slope, Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional 
Government, and Native Village of Point Hope may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Inupiat Community 
of the Arctic Slope, Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional 
Government, and Native Village of Point Hope that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: January 10, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-03607 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P