Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Anchorage, AK, 40372-40373 [E8-15903]

Download as PDF pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES 40372 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 135 / Monday, July 14, 2008 / Notices museum. No known individuals were identified. The 60 funerary objects are 3 complete or nearly complete painted wood masks; approximately 29 mask fragments; 4 figurines and carved wooden objects; 17 bidarka pieces including a keel piece and a cross piece; 1 ivory labret; 1 ivory needle; 2 stone artifacts; 1 basalt flake; 1 shell object; and 1 lot of duff collected near a mask. All individuals found within these caves are believed to be associated with the modern day populations of Umnak Island and Chaluka Corporation. There are no radiocarbon dates available for the human remains. All known dated cave burials from the Aleutians are younger than 2,000 years old (Black 1982, pg 24; Black 2003, pg 36; Hayes 2002). The human remains collected from burial caves on Kagamil Island were interred using traditional Aleut burial practices. The burial context and physical traits of the human remains are consistent with those observed for precontact Aleut populations. Skeletal morphology of present–day Aleut populations is similar to that of prehistoric Aleut populations and demonstrates biological affiliation between present–day Aleut groups and prehistoric populations in the Aleutian Islands. Analysis by the University of Alaska, Anchorage, with the assistance of the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology, included cranio–metric analysis and non–metric analysis of the post cranial skeletal human remains. The use of radiography was used to determine the contents of a small mummy bundle from Warm Cave. Analysis of the human remains concluded that these individuals are all of Aleut origin and are related culturally and geographically to each other and to the modern day inhabitants of Umnak Island, which are members of the Chaluka Corporation and Native Village of Nikolski. Cultural affiliation between the late prehistoric populations on Kagamil Island and the Chaluka Corporation is demonstrated by recent historical records. The Islands of the Four Mountains were occupied by a culturally distinct group of which little is known. Contact with Russian explorers was made in A.D. 1741. In the late 1700s, with assistance from Russian explorers, the Umnak Aleuts waged war on the people of the Islands of Four Mountains and around A.D. 1766 to 1772, that group had been substantially destroyed. Survivors of the conflict were incorporated into villages on Umnak. Officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9–10), the human remains described above VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:08 Jul 11, 2008 Jkt 214001 represent the physical remains of 35 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 210 objects 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. Lastly, officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 have determined that, 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 associated funerary objects and the Chaluka Corporation and Native Village of Nikolski. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Debra Corbett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 786–3399, before August 13, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Chaluka Corporation and Native Village of Nikolski may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 is responsible for notifying the Chaluka Corporation and Native Village of Nikolski that this notice has been published. Dated: June 5, 2008 Sherry Hutt, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. E8–15902 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Anchorage, AK National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: 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 and associated funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Anchorage, AK. The human remains and associated funerary PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 objects were removed from Atka 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 and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 professional staff with assistance from the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology and University of Alaska, Anchorage, in consultation with representatives of the Aleut Corporation; Atka IRA Council and Atxam Corporation, which represent the Native Village of Atka; and Unangan Repatriation Commission, a non–federally recognized Native Alaskan group. In either 1948 or 1949, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals were removed from burial caves on Atka Island, AK, by Theodore P. Bank II, an ethnobotanist, during an expedition undertaken for the purpose of collecting botanical as well as archeological specimens, which included human remains. The human remains from Atka Island have been curated at several institutions before finally arriving at the Museum of the Aleutians, Dutch Harbor, AK, in 2002 after which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was informed. No known individuals were identified. The 18 associated funerary objects are 1 stone lamp, 2 stone lamp fragments, 2 carved stone artifacts, 1 stone point, 1 ivory artifact, 9 bone tools, 1 sea otter skull, and 1 water worn bear mandible. The cultural affiliation has been determined based on previous occupations of the island, as well as the physical traits exhibited by both past populations and those of the recovered human remains. Atka Island has been occupied for at least 2,000 years and probably close to 6,000 years by the Aleut people. All known dated cave burials from the Aleutians are younger than 2,000 years old (Black, 1982, pg 24; Black 2003, pg 36; Hayes 2002). The skeletal morphology, other scientific testing, and physical traits associated with prehistoric Aleut populations and modern day Aleuts are consistent with the human remains. The burial contexts of the human remains are consistent with those observed for pre–contact Aleut populations. Based on scientific studies, burial context, and aboriginal occupation, the descendants of the E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 135 / Monday, July 14, 2008 / Notices Aleut from Atka Island are members of the Atxam Corporation and Native Village of Atka. Officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9–10), the human remains described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 18 objects 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. Lastly, officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 have determined that, 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 associated funerary objects and the Atxam Corporation and Native Village of Atka. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Debra Corbett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 786–3399, before August 13, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Native Village of Atka, represented by the Atka IRA Council and Atxam Corporation, may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 is responsible for notifying the Aleut Corporation; Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, Inc.; and Native Village of Atka, represented by the Atka IRA Council and Atxam Corporation that this notice has been published. Dated: June 5, 2008 Sherry Hutt, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. E8–15903 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Meeting National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice is here given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix (1988), of a VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:08 Jul 11, 2008 Jkt 214001 meeting of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee). The Review Committee will meet on October 11-12, 2008, at the Sheraton Suites San Diego at Symphony Hall, 701 A Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Meeting sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. each day. The agenda for the meeting includes an update on National NAGPRA Program activities during the second half of fiscal year 2008; activity reports from the National NAGPRA Program as requested by the Review Committee; an update and Review Committee recommendations on development of the draft proposed rule for disposition of unclaimed cultural items excavated or removed from Federal or tribal lands after November 16, 1990 (to be codified at 43 CFR 10.7); requests for recommendations regarding the disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains; presentations and statements by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, and the public; and the selection of dates and a site for the autumn 2009 meeting. A detailed agenda for this meeting will be posted by September 11, 2008, at https://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/. A request to make a presentation before the Review Committee at the October meeting will be considered if it is received, in writing, by the close of business on September 1, 2008. The request must include an abstract of the presentation and contact information for the presenter(s). Likewise, a written statement will be accepted for consideration by the Review Committee at the October meeting if it is received by close of business on September 1, 2008. Send presentation requests and statements by U.S. Postal Service mail or commercial delivery to: Designated Federal Officer, NAGPRA Review Committee, National Park Service National NAGPRA Program (2253), 1201 Eye Street, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In order to insure that presentation requests and statements are received in a timely manner, it is recommended that these documents also be sent via fax, to (202) 371-5197. The transcript of a Review Committee meeting is available for distribution approximately eight weeks from the date of the meeting. For a written transcript, contact the Designated Federal Officer at the above listed address. To request an electronic copy of a meeting transcript, contact DavidlTarler@nps.gov. Information about NAGPRA, the Review Committee, and Review Committee meetings is available at the National NAGPRA PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40373 website, https://www.nps.gov/history/ nagpra/. For the Review Committee’s meeting procedures, select ‘‘Review Committee,’’ then select ‘‘Procedures.’’\ The Review Committee was established by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 30013013. Review Committee members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The Review Committee is responsible for monitoring the NAGPRA inventory and identification process; reviewing and making findings related to the identity or cultural affiliation of cultural items, or the return of such items; facilitating the resolution of disputes; compiling an inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains that are in the possession or control of each Federal agency and museum and recommending specific actions for developing a process for disposition of such human remains; consulting with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations and museums on matters affecting such tribes or organizations lying within the scope of work of the Committee; consulting with the Secretary of the Interior on the development of regulations to carry out NAGPRA; and makingrecommendations regarding future care of repatriated cultural items. The Review Committee’s work is carried out during the course of meetings that are open to the public. Dated: June 26, 2008 David Tarler Designated Federal Officer, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee. [FR Doc. E8–15891 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions Nominations for the following properties being considered for listing or related actions in the National Register were received by the National Park Service before June 28, 2008. Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 CFR Part 60 written comments concerning the significance of these properties under the National Register criteria for evaluation may be forwarded by United States Postal Service, to the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St. NW., 2280, Washington, DC 20240; by all other carriers, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 135 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40372-40373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15903]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Anchorage, AK. The human remains 
and associated funerary objects were removed from Atka 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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Region 7 professional staff with assistance from 
the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology and University of 
Alaska, Anchorage, in consultation with representatives of the Aleut 
Corporation; Atka IRA Council and Atxam Corporation, which represent 
the Native Village of Atka; and Unangan Repatriation Commission, a non-
federally recognized Native Alaskan group.
    In either 1948 or 1949, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from burial caves on Atka Island, AK, by 
Theodore P. Bank II, an ethnobotanist, during an expedition undertaken 
for the purpose of collecting botanical as well as archeological 
specimens, which included human remains. The human remains from Atka 
Island have been curated at several institutions before finally 
arriving at the Museum of the Aleutians, Dutch Harbor, AK, in 2002 
after which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was informed. No known 
individuals were identified. The 18 associated funerary objects are 1 
stone lamp, 2 stone lamp fragments, 2 carved stone artifacts, 1 stone 
point, 1 ivory artifact, 9 bone tools, 1 sea otter skull, and 1 water 
worn bear mandible.
    The cultural affiliation has been determined based on previous 
occupations of the island, as well as the physical traits exhibited by 
both past populations and those of the recovered human remains. Atka 
Island has been occupied for at least 2,000 years and probably close to 
6,000 years by the Aleut people. All known dated cave burials from the 
Aleutians are younger than 2,000 years old (Black, 1982, pg 24; Black 
2003, pg 36; Hayes 2002). The skeletal morphology, other scientific 
testing, and physical traits associated with prehistoric Aleut 
populations and modern day Aleuts are consistent with the human 
remains. The burial contexts of the human remains are consistent with 
those observed for pre-contact Aleut populations. Based on scientific 
studies, burial context, and aboriginal occupation, the descendants of 
the

[[Page 40373]]

Aleut from Atka Island are members of the Atxam Corporation and Native 
Village of Atka.
    Officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Region 7 also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(A), the 18 objects 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. Lastly, officials of 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 have determined that, 
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 associated funerary objects and the Atxam Corporation 
and Native Village of Atka.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Debra Corbett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 786-3399, 
before August 13, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Native Village of Atka, represented 
by the Atka IRA Council and Atxam Corporation, may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 is responsible for 
notifying the Aleut Corporation; Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, 
Inc.; and Native Village of Atka, represented by the Atka IRA Council 
and Atxam Corporation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 5, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-15903 Filed 7-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S

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