Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan, AK

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. 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 janelle.crocker@usda.gov. 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: • The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of Native American ancestry. • 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. • 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