[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 47224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18698]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alaska State Office, Bureau of 
Land Management, Anchorage, AK; and Museum of the Aleutians, Unalaska, 
AK

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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains 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 Museum of the 
Aleutians, Unalaska, AK. The human remains were removed from Umnak 
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.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Alaska 
State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Museum of the Aleutians, and 
Smithsonian Institution professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Native Village of Nikolski.
    Between 1950 and the 1980s, human remains representing a minimum of 
212 individuals were removed from various sites in the southwestern 
part of Umnak Island, located in the Fox Island group of the eastern 
Aleutian Islands, AK. These sites included the Chaluka site at the 
Native Village of Nikolski, Ogalodox site, Sandy Beach site, and other 
nearby smaller sites. The exact provenience for each individual can not 
be determined. All of the human remains were probably removed at the 
direction of the late Dr. William Laughlin from Umnak Island, as they 
were later found to be among his collections. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    According to museum records, the 212 sets of human remains were 
probably first sent to the University of Wisconsin, but then removed by 
Dr. William Laughlin to the University of Connecticut at an unknown 
date. From there, they were shipped by Dr. Laughlin to the Museum of 
the Aleutians in 1998, where they are presently located.
    During 1961-62, human remains representing a minimum of nine 
individuals were removed from the Chaluka site at the Native Village of 
Nikolski, on Umnak Island in the Fox Island group of the eastern 
Aleutian Islands, AK. The human remains were also probably removed at 
the direction of the late Dr. William Laughlin from Umnak Island, as 
they were later found to be among his collections. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The remains of the nine individuals were shipped to the University 
of Wisconsin for study by Dr. William Laughlin and remained there until 
after his death. In 2006, the human remains were sent to the 
Smithsonian Institution for inventory, where they are presently 
located.
    Umnak Island has been inhabited for over 8,000 years by Aleut 
(Unangan) people. Based on geographical location, oral history, and 
archeological evidence, the human remains from this island are of Aleut 
(Unangan) origin. The Aleut (Unangan) are ancestors of inhabitants of 
the Native Village of Nikolski, the current and only Indian tribe and 
settlement on Umnak Island, AK.
    Officials of the Bureau of Land Management have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of a minimum of 221 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau of Land Management 
have also 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 the Native Village of 
Nikolski.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Robert E. King, Alaska State NAGPRA Coordinator, Bureau of Land 
Management, 222 W. 7th Avenue, <greek-i>13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599, 
telephone (907) 271-5510, before September 12, 2008. Repatriation of 
the human remains to the Native Village of Nikolski may proceed after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for notifying the 
Chaluka Corporation and Native Village of Nikolski that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: July 8, 2008
Daniel Odess,
Assistant Associate Director, Park Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. E8-18698 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
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