Notice2026-18971
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan, AK
Primary source
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Published
September 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 58707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18971]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7490; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043741; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan, AK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Tongass National Forest has completed an inventory of human
remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in
this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after October 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Janelle Crocker,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, Supervisor's Office,
648 Mission Street, Suite 110, Ketchikan, AK 99901, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d6bcb7b8b3babab3f8b5a4b9b5bdb3a496a3a5b2b7f8b1b9a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1dbd0dfd4ddddd49fd2c3ded2dad4c3f1c4c2d5d09fd6dec7">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 the
Tongass National Forest, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing at least 10 individuals have been
identified. The nine associated funerary objects include a mortuary
pole, bentwood box fragments, blanket fragments, beads, metal, abalone
shell, bird down, cordage, and cedar bark. The mortuary pole was
collected in approximately 1895 from John Brady's homestead residence
in the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska, and placed in the Sheldon
Jackson Museum. Human remains and associated funerary objects may or
may not be original to the pole, all of which likely originated from
the village site of Krugloi Point on the southern tip of Halleck
Island.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The Tongass National Forest has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 10 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The nine objects described in this notice are reasonably
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite
or ceremony.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Sitka
Tribe of Alaska.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
authorized representative identified in this notice under 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October
16, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the
Tongass National Forest 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. The Tongass National Forest is responsible
for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native
Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other
consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: September 10, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-18971 Filed 9-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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