[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56223-56224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27126]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of Willamette 
University, Salem, OR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human

[[Page 56224]]

remains and associated funerary objects in the possession of Willamette 
University, Salem, OR.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Willamette 
University professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community, the Confederated 
Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, the Klamath Indian Tribe, the 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, and the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama 
Reservation.
    During 1930-1970, human remains representing a minimum of three 
individuals were recovered from poorly-identified burial mounds in the 
mid-Willamette Valley, OR near the cities of Mt. Angel, Shedd, Halsey, 
and Harrisburg during excavations conducted by Willamette University 
students, either independently or under the direction of a professor. 
No known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary 
object is a necklace fragment of unstrung dentalia shells.
    Based on skeletal morphology, these human remains have been 
identified as Native American. Based on ethnographic sources, the 
Willamette Valley is recognized as the traditional territory of the 
Kalapooyan tribes. University of Maryland Anthropology Professor 
Emeritus Dr. William Laughlin (one of the student excavators during the 
1930s) confirmed the regions excavations and the Kalapooyan affiliation 
of those sites and human remains. Kalapooyan descendants presently 
reside among the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of Willamette 
University have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of a minimum 
of three individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
Willamette University have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the one object listed above is 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 
Willamette University have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and 
associated funerary object and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand 
Ronde Community.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Confederated Tribes 
of the Grand Ronde Community, the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz 
Reservation, the Klamath Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the 
Warm Springs Reservation, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
John Olbrantz, Director, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, 900 State St., 
Salem, OR 97301-3931; telephone: (503) 370-6855, before November 17, 
1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: October 1, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-27126 Filed 10-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F