[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 40600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19607]
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Notice of Inventory Completion for Human Remains and Associated
Funerary Objects in the Control of Glacier Bay National Park and
Preserve, Gustavus, AK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of the completion of inventory
of human remains and associated funerary objects in the control of
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Gustavus, AK. The human remains
and associated funerary objects are curated at Washington State
University, Pullman, WA.
A detailed inventory and assessment of these human remains and
associated funerary objects has been made by the National Park Service
curatorial and anthropological staff in consultation with
representatives of Hoonah Indian Association.
The cremated human bones and associated funerary objects were
recovered in 1964 from a collapsed log grave house on the western shore
of Excursion Inlet, AK, by Dr. Robert E. Ackerman. The cremated human
remains and funerary objects were originally in bent wood boxes which
were deteriorated when documented by Dr. Ackerman.
The human remains represent a minimum of three adults of unknown
sex, stature, and age. No known individuals were identifiable.
Associated funerary objects include two copper tube fragments, two
white glass shirt buttons, several clay pipestem fragments, an eroded
piece of metal with bits of woven fabric, four pieces of shaped wood
(remains of the bent wood box or boxes that originally contained the
remains), a bone socket containing a wooden plug, and several decayed
bits of cordage.
Testimony of Tlingit elders recorded in Goldschmidt and Haas,
``Possessory Rights of the Natives of Southeastern Alaska,`` (1946),
and testimony taken during recent consultation with Hoonah Tlingit
elders identifies Excursion Inlet as within the traditional territory
of the Hoonah Tlingit. Dr. Ackerman suggests that the practice of
cremation among the Hoonah Tlingit became very rare after 1890. On that
basis these human remains are believed to have been interred sometime
prior to that time.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the National
Park Service has determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 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 Hoonah Indian Association. All of the objects
are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual
Native American human remains either at the time of death or later as
part of a death rite or ceremony.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Hoonah Indian
Association. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and
associated funerary objects should contact Superintendent Jim Brady,
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, AK
99826-0140, telephone (907) 697-2230 before September 8, 1995.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Hoonah Indian Association may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: August 3, 1995
Veletta Canouts
Acting, Departmental Consulting Archeologist and
Acting Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-19607 Filed 8-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
