Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains from Chugachik Island and Togiak, AK in the Possession of the Pratt Museum, Homer, AK

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 19514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10356]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Chugachik Island and Togiak, AK in the Possession of the Pratt 
Museum, Homer, 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 in the possession of 
the Pratt Museum, Homer, AK.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Pratt 
Museum, University of Alaska-Anchorage, and Alaska State Office of 
History and Archaeology professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Chugach Alaska Corporation, Nanwalek Village 
Council, Port Graham Village Council, Seldovia Village Tribe, Cook 
Inlet Region, Inc., Ninilchik Village Traditional Council, Kenaitze 
Indian Tribe, Salamatof Tribal Council, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, 
and the Traditional Council of Togiak.
    Between 1966-1976, human remains representing three individuals 
were recovered from non-federal lands on Chugachik Island in Kachemak 
Bay, AK by N. Holt, A.C. Holt, and/or Sam Pratt and donated to the 
Pratt Museum by Sam Pratt. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the apparent age of the remains (c. 300 BC to 300 AD), 
these individuals have been determined to be Alutiiq. Based on material 
culture and manner of interment, the site from which these remains were 
recovered has been identified as Kachemak Tradition. Based on 
continuities of material culture and technologies, the Kachemak 
Tradition has been identified as an antecedent of the modern Alutiiq 
peoples, including Chugach Alaska Corporation, Nanwalek Village 
Council, Port Graham Village Council, Seldovia Village Tribe, Native 
Village of Tatitlek, Native Village of Chenega, and Eyak Native 
Village.
    In 1981, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from non-federal lands at Togiak, AK by Patrick and Dianne Audette who 
donated them to the Pratt Museum. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on statitistical tests of cranial measurements, this 
individual has been determined to be Yup'ik. The location where the 
remains were reportedly recovered has been identified as an area of 
Yup'ik occupation dating back 2,500 years based on continuties of 
material culture.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Pratt 
Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human 
remains listed above represent the physical remains of four individuals 
of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Pratt Museum have also 
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 the Chugach Alaska Corporation, 
Nanwalek Village Council, Port Graham Village Council, Seldovia Village 
Tribe, Native Village of Tatitlek, Native Village of Chenega, Eyak 
Native Village, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, and Traditional Council 
of Togiak.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation, Nanwalek Village Council, Port Graham Village Council, 
Seldovia Village Tribe, Cook Inlet Region, Inc., Ninilchik Village 
Traditional Council, Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Salamatof Tribal Council, 
Bristol Bay Native Corporation, and the Traditional Council of Togiak. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact Betsy 
Webb, Curator of Collecctions, Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett Street, 
Homer, AK 99603; telephone: (907) 235-8635, fax: (907) 235-2764; or 
email: pratt@alaska.net, before May 20, 1998. Repatriation of the human 
remains to the Chugach Alaska Corporation, Nanwalek Village Council, 
Port Graham Village Council, Seldovia Village Tribe, Native Village of 
Tatitlek, Native Village of Chenega, Eyak Native Village, Bristol Bay 
Native Corporation, and the Traditional Council of Togiak may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: April 13, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography.
[FR Doc. 98-10356 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
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