FR Doc 2010-20950[Federal Register: August 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 163)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52021]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24au10-77]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service
 
Notice of Inventory Completion: New York University College of 
Dentistry, New York, NY

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 
New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY. The human 
remains were removed from Port Clarence, Nome County, 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 New York 
University College of Dentistry professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Native Village of Brevig Mission and Native 
Village of Teller.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unidentified site at Port Clarence, 
Nome County, AK, by an unknown individual. By 1924, the human remains 
were donated to the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation by 
Mrs. George Heye. In 1956, the human remains were transferred to Dr. 
Theodore Kazamiroff, New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD 
334). No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Museum of the American Indian records list the origin of the human 
remains as Port Clarence, AK, which is located on the Seward Peninsula. 
The morphology of the human remains is consistent with Native American 
ancestry. In the late 19th century, Edward William Nelson, Smithsonian 
Institution naturalist, observed burials in the region. The human 
remains were placed in wooden boxes that were elevated onto poles. The 
boxes or poles were marked with totems to which tools or other 
necessary items were attached. The boxes were exposed and highly 
visible to collectors. Based on the preservation observed in 
excavations on the Seward Peninsula, it is likely that the human 
remains are associated with the Western Thule tradition, and postdate 
A.D. 1000.
    In the Western Thule tradition, the people of the Seward Peninsula 
were highly localized, with differences in their lifeways based on the 
particular resources available in their territory. Localization may 
have occurred alongside the development of geopolitical boundaries. 
Port Clarence was focused on whaling, and was part of the Sinrarmiut or 
Port Clarence territory of Inupiaq speakers at the time of European 
contact. Today, the descendants of the people of Port Clarence are 
represented by the Native Villages of Brevig Mission and Teller. Both 
communities made seasonal use of Port Clarence in the 20th century, and 
tribal representatives have identified Port Clarence as part of their 
ancestral territory.
    Officials of New York University College of Dentistry have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of New York University College of 
Dentistry 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 Native Village 
of Brevig Mission and Native Village of Teller.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Louis Terracio, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th 
St., New York, NY 10010, telephone (212) 998-9917, before September 23, 
2010. Repatriation of the human remains to the Native Village of Brevig 
Mission and Native Village of Teller may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The New York University College of Dentistry is responsible for 
notifying the Native Village of Brevig Mission and Native Village of 
Teller that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 18, 2010.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-20950 Filed 8-23-10; 8:45 am]
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