[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32317-32318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14903]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025692; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Tongass National Forest, Juneau Ranger District, Juneau, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tongass National Forest, 
Juneau Ranger District, (Tongass National Forest) 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 associated funerary objects 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 the human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request to the Tongass National Forest. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, 
or Native Hawaiian

[[Page 32318]]

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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Tongass National Forest at the address in 
this notice by August 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: M. Earl Stewart, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, 
648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, telephone (907) 228-6281, 
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 the human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the USDA Tongass 
National Forest, Juneau Ranger District, Juneau, AK. The human remains 
and associated funerary objects were removed from Entrance Island, near 
Hobart Bay, AK, on two separate occasions by two separate collectors.
    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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Tongass 
National Forest archeologists in partnership with the professional 
staff of the Alaska State Museum and in consultation with 
representatives of Douglas Indian Association and the Organized Village 
of Kake.

History and Description of the Remains

    In the summer of 1961, funerary objects, in several pieces, were 
removed from a small cave on Entrance Island near Hobart Bay, AK. An 
individual exploring the island reported that he found a small cave 
that contained human remains and portions of a bentwood box, as well as 
some other burial items believed to have been placed there at the time 
of burial. He collected a basket of a type that reportedly was used to 
cradle a baby and sometimes was used to bury the deceased. Additional 
items collected include a piece of leather cordage, a portion of a 
woven cedar mat, and a piece of wood with evidence of a kerf corner, 
all of which were connected with either the basket or the bentwood box. 
The human remains and the bentwood box were not removed from the cave 
at that time. The individual returned the four burial items to the 
Tongass National Forest in 2017. Subsequently, it was determined that 
these funerary objects are associated with the below described human 
remains and funerary object that were separately collected by a 
different individual.
    In 1961, the desiccated remains of an infant inside a bentwood box 
that had been wrapped in a cedar mat were removed from a small burial 
cave on Entrance Island, near Hobart Bay. In November 1961, these human 
remains and funerary objects were sent to the Alaska State Museum for 
curation. Based on oral testimony, this burial site and the above 
described burial cave are determined to be one and the same. The human 
remains consist of a single individual, a mummified infant, estimated 
to be between the ages of 6 and 9 months. Determination of sex or 
affinity based on skeletal features was not possible. The bentwood box 
containing the infant's remains was painted and uncarved. It was 
recovered from beneath the cedar bark mat. When found, the infant had 
ermine skins tied in its hair.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects are believed to 
be of pre-contact or first contact date, as after contact, the 
Christian burial practice of underground internment became widespread. 
The human remains are reasonably believed to be associated with the 
K[eacute]ex Kw[aacute]an, who have traditionally used and occupied the 
island. The cultural affiliation of the human remains was determined by 
consulting Haa Aan[iacute] Our Land Tlingit and Haida Land Rights and 
Use, by Walter R. Goldschmidt and Theodore H. Haas, edited by Thomas F. 
Thorton (1998). Additional cultural affiliation information was 
provided by the Organized Village of Kake and the Douglas Indian 
Association. The K[eacute]ex Kw[aacute]an continue to live in their 
traditional territory and use the Hobart Bay area. Their present-day 
descendants are the Organized Village of Kake.

Determinations Made by the Tongass National Forest

    Officials of the Tongass National Forest 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(3)(A), the seven objects 
described in this notice 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and the Organized Village of 
Kake.

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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to M. Earl Stewart, Forest Supervisor, Tongass 
National Forest, 648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, 
telephone (907) 228-6281, email [email protected], by August 13, 2018. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Organized Village of Kake may proceed.
    The Tongass National Forest is responsible for notifying the 
Douglas Indian Association and the Organized Village of Kake that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: May 31, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-14903 Filed 7-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P