[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 25277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12271]


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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

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. The human remains were removed from Amaknak 
Island and Unalaska 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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Bureau 
of Land Management and Smithsonian Institution professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Ounalashka Corporation and 
Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.
    Sometime during the 1950s to 1970s, human remains representing a 
minimum of one individual were removed from the Kismaliuk Cave site, 
which is located west of Unalaska on Unalaska Island in the Fox Island 
group of the eastern Aleutian Islands, Aleutians East Borough, AK. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Sometime during the 1950s to 1970s, human remains representing a 
minimum of two individuals were removed from the Amaknak-D site near 
Unalaska on Amaknak Island in the Fox Island group of the eastern 
Aleutian Islands, Aleutians East Borough, AK. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    According to museum records, the human remains were excavated by 
the now-deceased Dr. William Laughlin of the University of Wisconsin 
under Federal permits. All excavations were done on land managed by the 
Bureau of Land Management at the time. No further information was found 
in museum records. In 2007, these human remains were moved from the 
University of Wisconsin to the Smithsonian Institution for inventory.
    Unalaska Island and nearby Amaknak Island have been inhabited for 
over 8,000 years by Aleut (Unangan) people. Based on geographical 
location, oral history, and archeological evidence, the human remains 
from these two islands are determined to be Native American and 
ancestors of members of the Ounalashka Corporation and Qawalangin Tribe 
of Unalaska.
    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 three 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 Ounalashka 
Corporation and Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.
    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, Box 13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599, 
telephone (907) 271-5510, before June 26, 2009. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the Ounalashka Corporation and Qawalangin Tribe of 
Unalaska may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for notifying the 
Ounalashka Corporation and Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: May 13, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-12271 Filed 5-26-09; 8:45 am]
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