[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 135 (Monday, July 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 38121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15250]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032261; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological 
Repository, Kodiak, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository 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 Alutiiq 
Museum & Archaeological Repository. 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 
Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository at the address in this 
notice by August 18, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. April Laktonen Counceller, Alutiiq 
Museum & Archaeological Repository, 215 Mission Road First Floor, 
Kodiak, AK 99615, telephone (844) 425-8844, 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 Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, 
AK. The human remains were removed from the Aleut Village North 
Archeological Site (49-AFG-00004), Afognak Island, 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 was made by the Alutiiq 
Museum & Archaeological Repository professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Native Village of Afognak and the Native 
Village of Port Lions.

History and Description of the Remains

    In June 2012, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were discovered in a sample of faunal material collected 
from the Aleut Village North archeological site (49-AFG-00004) on 
Afognak Island, AK. The site is on a Native allotment conveyed to the 
late Fred Pestrikoff and now owned by his heir Karen Pestrikoff. From 
1997 to 2000, the Pestrikoff family allowed excavations on this land as 
part of the Native Village of Afognak's Dig Afognak Program. Beginning 
in 1997, artifacts and samples from the project were deposited at the 
Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository for care, as a loan from 
Karen Pestrikoff under museum accession number AM330. In 2012, the 
cranial fragment was identified by zooarcheologist Bob Kopperl, while 
completing an inventory of faunal materials. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Staff contacted 
Karen Pestrikoff regarding the human remains and she signed a transfer 
of control allowing the museum to separate the human remains from the 
collection for the purposes of repatriation. This occurred in November 
2019.
    The Aleut Village North Archeological Site is a prehistoric and 
historic settlement north of Afognak Village on the southeast coast of 
Afognak Island. The site has a well-preserved midden that dates to the 
Kachemak and Koniag traditions, as well as historic deposits of 
material. Human remains have been found at this site in the past (73 FR 
79903), and have been determined to be Kodiak Alutiiq. Archeological 
data indicates that the ancestors of the Kodiak Alutiiq people have 
inhabited the Kodiak region for over 7,500 years. As the prehistoric 
midden deposit in which the cranial fragment was found covers this time 
span, the human remains are related to the contemporary Kodiak Alutiiq 
people. Specifically, the human remains are from an area of the Kodiak 
Archipelago traditionally used by members of the Native Village of 
Afognak and the Native Village of Port Lions.

Determinations Made by the Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository

    Officials of the Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository 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 Native Village of Afognak and the Native 
Village of Port Lions.

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. April 
Laktonen Counceller, Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository, 215 
Mission Road First Floor, Kodiak, AK 99615, telephone (844) 425-8844, 
email [email protected], by August 18, 2021. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Native Village of Afognak and the Native Village 
of Port Lions may proceed.
    The Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository is responsible for 
notifying the Native Village of Afognak and the Native Village of Port 
Lions that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 7, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-15250 Filed 7-16-21; 8:45 am]
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