[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28381-28382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11117]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032000; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Princeton University, Princeton, 
NJ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Princeton University has completed an inventory of an 
associated funerary object, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary object and 
present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations and a lineal 
descendant. 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 associated funerary object should 
submit a written request to Princeton University. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the associated funerary 
object to the lineal descendant, 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 the associated funerary object should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
Princeton University at the address in this notice by June 25, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Bryan R. Just, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, 
NJ 08544, telephone (609) 258-8805, 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 an associated 
funerary object under the control of Princeton University, Princeton, 
NJ. The associated funerary object was removed from Old Stickeen, 
Wrangell, 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 
associated funerary object. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the associated funerary object was made by 
Princeton University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian 
Tribes. Although an invitation to consult was extended to a lineal 
descendant, Luella Knapp, the coronavirus pandemic impeded this effort 
to consult.

History and Description of the Associated Funerary Object

    In 1879, Sheldon Jackson removed a carved wooden mortuary pole from 
Old Stickeen, Wrangell, AK. The mortuary pole is known by the Tlingit 
as the Kadashan mortuary pole (PU 5210). John Muir witnessed the 
removal of the pole and reported on it in his book Travels in Alaska. 
Sheldon Jackson was a member of the Presbyterian Missions in Alaska and 
an alumnus of the Princeton Theological Seminary. Between 1879 and 
1882, Jackson made donations to the Princeton Theological Seminary that 
included the Kadashan mortuary pole. In 1882, the pole was transferred 
to Princeton University's E.M. Museum of Natural History. The backside 
of the pole contains a niche that would have contained human remains. 
According to the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, 
Luella Knapp is the great granddaughter of Chief Kadashan and the 
caretaker of this mortuary pole. Her mother, Carol Feller Brady, was 
the daughter of Elizabeth Kadashan James, who in turn was the daughter 
of Chief John Kadashan.

Determinations Made by Princeton University

    Officials of Princeton University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
in this notice is reasonably believed to have been made exclusively to 
contain human remains.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(1), Luella Knapp is the lineal 
descendant of the individual whose remains were intered in the mortuary 
pole.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
associated funerary object and the Central Council of the Tlingit & 
Haida Indian Tribes.

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 the associated funerary object should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
Bryan R. Just, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ 08544, 
telephone (609) 258-5013, email [email protected], by June 25, 2021. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the associated funerary object to Luella Knapp 
and the Central Council of the Tilingit & Haida Indian Tribes may

[[Page 28382]]

proceed (with priority given in the order listed).
    Princeton University is responsible for notifying Luella Knapp and 
the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 17, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-11117 Filed 5-25-21; 8:45 am]
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