2023-16066. Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM Alaska) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were removed from the Northwest Arctic Borough, AK.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after August 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Robert E. King, Bureau of Land Management, 222 W 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of BLM Alaska. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records held by BLM Alaska.

Description

Human remains representing, at minimum, 13 individuals were removed from the Northwest Arctic Borough, AK. The human remains of 11 individuals were removed from or near Cape Krusenstern and the human remains of two individuals were removed from the Choris Peninsula. These human remains were removed by an unknown party or parties, probably in the 1950s or 1960s, and they likely were acquired in the mid-20th century during expeditions to Alaska sponsored by Brown University, in Providence, RI. Of the 13 individuals listed in this notice, incomplete museum records indicate that at least seven, and maybe 10, were found during archeological excavations, while three were likely surface finds. Ultimately, these human remains were placed in the collections of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology at Brown University. The human remains are over 150 years old. No associated funerary objects are present.

Cultural Affiliation

The human remains in this notice are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The following types of information were used to reasonably trace the relationship: archeological and oral traditional.

Determinations

Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, BLM Alaska has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 13 individuals of Native American ancestry.

• There is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Native Village of Kotzebue.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the human remains in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 28, 2023. If competing requests for repatriation are received, BLM Alaska must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. BLM Alaska is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribe identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9, 10.10, and 10.14.

Dated: July 19, 2023.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.