Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, Puyallup, WA, 65141 [E9-29290]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 9, 2009 / Notices WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Dated: November 9, 2009. David Tarler, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. E9–29299 Filed 12–9–09; 8:45 am] 1937 Alaskan cruise were recorded as collected from southeast Alaska. Based on this evidence, the museum considers the objects to have been removed from a location along the Alaska Steamship BILLING CODE 4312–50–S Company’s Seattle-Skagway-Sitka route in southeast Alaska. The museum consulted with the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Sealaska Corporation regarding these unassociated funerary objects. In 1971, National Park Service the Sealaska Corporation was formed Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural under the Alaska Native Claims Items: Paul H. Karshner Memorial Settlement Act, and its shareholders Museum, Puyallup, WA include Native residents of southeast Alaska and Native people who AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. originated from southeast Alaska. ACTION: Notice. Southeast Alaska is within the traditional territory of the Tlingit and Notice is here given in accordance Haida Alaskan Native groups (De with the Native American Graves Laguna 1990: 203–228; Whorl Protection and Repatriation Act 1990:149–158 in Handbook of North (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent American Indians, Vol. 7, Northwest to repatriate cultural items in the Coast). Consultation evidence presented possession of the Paul H. Karshner by the Sealaska Corporation supports Memorial Museum, Puyallup, WA, that the use of Russian trade beads among meets the definition of ‘‘unassociated Alaskan Native Tlingit people as early funerary objects’’ under 25 U.S.C. 3001. as 1741, when the first contact between This notice is published as part of the Tlingit people and Russians occurred National Park Service’s administrative (Dauenhauer, 2008). The beads became responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 a symbol of wealth for Tlingit people U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). The determinations who owned them, and it was a common in this notice are the sole responsibility practice among the Tlingit to inter beads of the museum, institution, or Federal with their deceased. agency that has control of the cultural Officials of the Paul H. Karshner items. The National Park Service is not Memorial Museum have determined responsible for the determinations in that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), this notice. the two cultural items described above In 1937, two unassociated funerary are reasonably believed to have been objects were removed from a grave in placed with or near individual human Alaska, by Dr. Warner and Mrs. Ella remains at the time of death or later as Karshner while on a tourist cruise of part of the death rite or ceremony and southeast Alaska, and donated to the are believed, by a preponderance of the Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum in evidence, to have been removed from a 1938 (Catalog No. 1938.01.1–71). The specific burial site of an Native objects are described in museum records American individual. Officials of the as, ‘‘2 strings of old Russian beads from Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum an Alaskan grave. Probably used in also have determined that, pursuant to barter with Indians when Alaska 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a belonged to Russia.’’ The two necklaces relationship of shared group identity are composed of glass beads of various that can be reasonably traced between colors. One necklace has faceted blue the unassociated funerary objects and and round red beads (26’’ long); the the Sealaska Corporation. other necklace has blue, green, white, Representatives of any other Indian red, black, and yellow round beads (66’’ tribe that believes itself to be culturally long). affiliated with the unassociated funerary While there is no record of the exact objects should contact Dr. Jay Reifel, location the funerary objects were Assistant Superintendent, Puyallup obtained, the museum has a letter School District, telephone (253) 840– written by Mrs. Karshner describing the 8971, or Ms. Beth Bestrom, Curator, couple’s 1937 Alaskan cruise on the SS Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, Cordova, an Alaska Steamship Company 309 4th St. NE, Puyallup, WA 98372, (ASC) vessel. On their cruise, she noted telephone (253) 841–8748, before they stopped for two weeks at Klawock, January 8, 2010. Repatriation of the located on the west side of Prince of unassociated funerary objects to the Wales Island. A 1936 Alaska Steamship Sealaska Corporation may proceed after Company route map confirms Klawock that date if no additional claimants was a stop along their Seattle-Skagwaycome forward. The Paul H. Karshner Memorial Sitka route. All of the other items Museum is responsible for notifying the donated by the Karshners from their VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:02 Dec 08, 2009 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 65141 Sealaska Corporation that this notice has been published. Dated: October 29, 2009. Richard C. Waldbauer, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. E9–29290 Filed 12–8–09; 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, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK, and Public Museum of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI 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 control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK, and in the possession of the Public Museum of West Michigan (Grand Rapids Public Museum), Grand Rapids, MI. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Amaknak Island, Aleutians East Borough, 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 and associated funerary objects was made by the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, and the Grand Rapids Public Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Ounalashka Corporation and Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska. In 1971, human remains representing a minimum of 15 individuals were removed from the Dutch Harbor Site on Amaknak Island, Aleutians East Borough, AK, during an expedition that was co-sponsored by the American Institute for Exploration, Western Michigan University, and the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. The expedition was directed by Western Michigan University faculty and Ted E:\FR\FM\09DEN1.SGM 09DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 65141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29290]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Paul H. Karshner 
Memorial Museum, Puyallup, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Paul H. Karshner 
Memorial Museum, Puyallup, WA, that meets the definition of 
``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    In 1937, two unassociated funerary objects were removed from a 
grave in Alaska, by Dr. Warner and Mrs. Ella Karshner while on a 
tourist cruise of southeast Alaska, and donated to the Paul H. Karshner 
Memorial Museum in 1938 (Catalog No. 1938.01.1-71). The objects are 
described in museum records as, ``2 strings of old Russian beads from 
an Alaskan grave. Probably used in barter with Indians when Alaska 
belonged to Russia.'' The two necklaces are composed of glass beads of 
various colors. One necklace has faceted blue and round red beads (26'' 
long); the other necklace has blue, green, white, red, black, and 
yellow round beads (66'' long).
    While there is no record of the exact location the funerary objects 
were obtained, the museum has a letter written by Mrs. Karshner 
describing the couple's 1937 Alaskan cruise on the SS Cordova, an 
Alaska Steamship Company (ASC) vessel. On their cruise, she noted they 
stopped for two weeks at Klawock, located on the west side of Prince of 
Wales Island. A 1936 Alaska Steamship Company route map confirms 
Klawock was a stop along their Seattle-Skagway-Sitka route. All of the 
other items donated by the Karshners from their 1937 Alaskan cruise 
were recorded as collected from southeast Alaska. Based on this 
evidence, the museum considers the objects to have been removed from a 
location along the Alaska Steamship Company's Seattle-Skagway-Sitka 
route in southeast Alaska.
    The museum consulted with the Sealaska Corporation regarding these 
unassociated funerary objects. In 1971, the Sealaska Corporation was 
formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and its 
shareholders include Native residents of southeast Alaska and Native 
people who originated from southeast Alaska. Southeast Alaska is within 
the traditional territory of the Tlingit and Haida Alaskan Native 
groups (De Laguna 1990: 203-228; Whorl 1990:149-158 in Handbook of 
North American Indians, Vol. 7, Northwest Coast). Consultation evidence 
presented by the Sealaska Corporation supports the use of Russian trade 
beads among Alaskan Native Tlingit people as early as 1741, when the 
first contact between Tlingit people and Russians occurred (Dauenhauer, 
2008). The beads became a symbol of wealth for Tlingit people who owned 
them, and it was a common practice among the Tlingit to inter beads 
with their deceased.
    Officials of the Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two cultural items 
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of an Native 
American individual. Officials of the Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum 
also 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 unassociated funerary objects and the Sealaska Corporation.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Dr. Jay Reifel, Assistant Superintendent, Puyallup School 
District, telephone (253) 840-8971, or Ms. Beth Bestrom, Curator, Paul 
H. Karshner Memorial Museum, 309 4th St. NE, Puyallup, WA 98372, 
telephone (253) 841-8748, before January 8, 2010. Repatriation of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Sealaska Corporation may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Sealaska Corporation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 29, 2009.
Richard C. Waldbauer,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-29290 Filed 12-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S

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