[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 23804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10370]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, 
Puyallup, WA

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 possession of the 
Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, Puyallup, WA. The human remains were 
removed from the Aleutian Islands, 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 Paul H. 
Karshner Memorial Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Aleut Corporation.
    Prior to 1945, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. On May 5, 
1945, the human remains were donated to the museum by Lee Anna (or 
Lavanna) McAllister (Catalog  1-93, Accn. 1945-1). 
Museum records state that the human remains are ``one skull from 
Aleutian Islands. Found at the mouth of the Salmon River on the shores 
of the Bering Sea''. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Research into the donor has not indicated how she may have acquired 
the human remains. There is no known ``Salmon River'' that drains into 
the Bering Sea, however, ``Salmon Lagoon'' was a location with 
significant U.S. military presence during World War II on Kiska Island, 
Aleutian Islands. Military records were searched to locate a McAllister 
who may have been stationed on Kiska Island, but no further information 
was identified. Although no further information could be identified, 
based on the known military presence on Kiska Island at Salmon Lagoon 
and the date of the donation (post-World War II), this individual is 
reasonably believed to have been collected by military personnel.
    The museum's inventory book identifies the human remains as being 
part of the ``Native American Collection'' and being from the Aleutian 
Islands, AK. The Aleutian Islands are known to be aboriginal lands for 
the Aleut Corporation. Based on museum records, geographical location, 
and consultation, the museum reasonably believes the individual is 
culturally affiliated with the Aleut Corporation.
    Officials of the Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9)-(10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of one individual of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum 
also have 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 Aleut Corporation.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Jay 
Reifel, Assistant Superintendent, Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, 
telephone (253) 840-8971, or Ms. Beth Bestrom, Museum Curator, Paul H. 
Karshner Memorial Museum, telephone (253) 841-8748, 309 4th St. NE, 
Puyallup, WA 98372, before June 3, 2010. Repatriation to the Aleut 
Corporation may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Aleut Corporation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 16, 2010.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-10370 Filed 5-3-10; 8:45 am]
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