[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33349-33350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12848]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


REVISION--Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American 
Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the 
611th Air Support Group, United States Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force 
Base, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of 611th Air Support Group, United 
States Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the W.H. 
Over Museum, South Dakota State Archeological Research Center, and 
611th Air Support Group, USAF professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Aleut Corporation, and the Aleutian Pribilof 
Islands Association, Inc.
    In 1943, human remains representing one individual were uncovered 
during a legally authorized runway construction project on Shemya 
Island, AK conducted by Mr. C.B. Kimbrough, a contracted civil engineer 
with the Baker Engineering Company, Rochester, PA. In 1944, these human 
remains were donated by Mr. Kinbrough to the Dakota Museum, University 
of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD (now known as the W.H. Over Museum). No 
known individual was identified. The 32 associated funerary objects 
include stone projectile points and animal bone tools related to sea 
and land hunting and fishing.
    Based on the geographic location and material culture, this 
individual has been identified as Native American, most likely 
affiliated with the Aleut culture. The determination of cultural 
affiliation has been based upon the relative geographic isolation of 
Shemya Island, archeological evidence from the Shemya Island region, 
past and present Aleut oral tradition, historical evidence, and expert 
anthropological opinion. These forms of evidence all indicate that 
Aleut people were the sole pre-contact (pre-1741 A.D.) occupants of 
Shemya Island.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 611th 
Air Force Group, USAF have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 611th 
Air Force Group, USAF have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the 32 objects listed 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 611th Air Force Group, USAF have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which 
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects and the Aleut Corporation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Aleut Corporation, 
and the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. Representatives of 
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Captain Christopher A. Pleiman, Cultural Resources Manager, 611th Air 
Support Group, U.S. Air Force, 6900 9th Street, Ste. 360, Elmendorf 
AFB, AK 99506-2270; telephone: (907) 552-7442, before June 22, 2000. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary

[[Page 33350]]

objects to the Aleut Corporation may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: May 8, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-12848 Filed 5-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F