[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7276-7277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4320]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Cheney Cowles 
Museum, Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Spokane, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service

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 an 
inventory of Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects currently in the possession of the Cheney Cowles Museum, 
Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Spokane, WA.
    A detailed inventory and assessment has been made by members of the 
Cheney Cowles Museum professional staff in consultation with the 
Spokane Tribe of Indians.
    In 1939-1940 during excavations of sites behind the Grand Coulee 
Dam, the human remains and associated funerary objects were collected 
from four sites on the north side of the Spokane River. The human 
remains from sites 8, 48, and 50 represent three individuals. No known 
individuals were identified. A total of 1,409 objects are associated 
with these remains including: stone pipe bowls; iron ax heads; bone 
(implements, elk teeth); shell (abalone, olivella, dentallia); copper 
(beads, buttons, pendants); glass beads; copper beads, discs, and 
ornaments; twined bag and basketry fragments; hide fragments; a stone 
pestle; and bark matting. A total of 320 objects were excavated from 
two burials at Site 51 including copper (button, pendant, beads), an 
iron ax head, and shell (dentallia). The condition of the excavation 
reports for site 51 has made it impossible to determine whether the 
human remains were removed, and no human remains from site 51 have been 
located in the collections. Sites 8, 48, 50, and 51 have been 
identified to recent pre-contact through the mid-nineteenth century by 
the cultural items found with the human remains.
    The location of these sites, north of the Spokane River and east of 
the Columbia River, is well within the exclusive traditional occupation 
area of the Spokane Tribe during the pre-contact era and is now tribal 
land within the exterior boundaries of the Spokane Reservation. The 
basketry fragments have identical construction as historic and present-
day Spokane basketry techniques. Representatives and elders of the 
Spokane Tribe have indicated the manner of the interments is consistent 
with Spokane traditional practice. Representatives and elders of the 
Spokane Tribe affirms that Spokane burials are known to have existed 
along this particular portion of the Spokane River. 
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Cheney 
Cowles Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10 (d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of three 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Cheney Cowles 
Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A) and 
(B), the 1,409 objects listed above are reasonably believed to have 
been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony. Lastly, officials of 
the Cheney Cowles Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 

[[Page 7277]]
3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between the human remains and funerary objects and 
the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
    This notice has been sent to the Spokane Tribe of Indians. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and funerary objects 
should contact Mr. Glenn Mason, Director, Cheney Cowles Museum, 2316 W. 
First Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204, telephone (509) 456-4931 ext. 104 
before March 28, 1996 Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
Dated: February 21, 1996
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-4320 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F