[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67203-67204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29768]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, 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 and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the American Museum of Natural History, 
New York, NY. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Lower Memaloose Island, Wasco County, OR, and Upper 
Memaloose Island, Klickitat County, WA.
    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 within this notice are the sole responsibility of 
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within 
this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by American 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Indian Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde 
Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; Hoh Indian Tribe of the Hoh Indian Reservation, 
Washington; Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal 
Community of the Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; Lummi Tribe of 
the Lummi Reservation, Washington; Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah 
Indian Reservation, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the 
Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the 
Nisqually Reservation, Washington; Nooksack Indian Tribe of Washington; 
Port Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, 
Washington; Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; 
Quileute Tribe of the Quileute Reservation, Washington; Quinault Tribe 
of the Quinault Reservation, Washington; Samish Indian Tribe, 
Washington; Shoalwater Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian 
Reservation, Washington; Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish 
Reservation, Washington; Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island 
Reservation, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington; Swinomish 
Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, Washington; Tulalip Tribes of the 
Tulalip Reservation, Washington; and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe of 
Washington.
    In 1870, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed from Memaloose Island, Columbia River, in the vicinity of 
The Dalles, OR, by Dr. Joseph Simms. It is unclear from museum records 
whether the human remains came from Upper Memaloose Island, Klickatat 
County, WA, or Lower Memaloose Island, Wasco County, OR. Dr. Simms 
donated the human remains and 9 of the 13 associated funerary objects 
to the American Museum of Natural History in 1872. In 1903, Dr. Simms 
donated the four remaining associated funerary objects to the museum. 
No known individuals were identified. The 13 associated funerary 
objects are 2 copper kettles, 4 strings of beads, 2 bracelets, 2 
blanket pieces, and 3 leather wrapping pieces.
    In 1882, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the Columbia River in the vicinity of The Dalles, 
Wasco County, OR, by James Terry. The human remains were purchased by 
the American Museum of Natural History from Mr. Terry in 1891. Museum 
records give the actual locality as Tum-Wa-Ta, OR, Lower Memaloose 
Island(?). No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1887, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from Lower Memaloose Island, Columbia River, Wasco County, OR, by J. 
Hageny. James Terry acquired these human remains and sold them to the 
American Museum of Natural History in 1891. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of 86 
individuals were removed from Upper Memaloose Island, Columbia River, 
Klickitat County, WA, by George A. Dorsey. In 1905, the American Museum 
of Natural History purchased the human remains from Mr. Dorsey. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of 42 
individuals were removed from Upper Memaloose Island, Columbia River, 
Klickitat County, WA, by unknown individuals. The human remains came 
into the possession of George Dorsey, who sold them to F. von Luschan 
in 1913. In 1924, F. Warburg, acting for F. von Luschan, donated the 
remains to the American Museum of Natural History. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains removed from Memaloose Island in 1870 have been 
identified as Native American based on the types of associated funerary 
objects and the presence of cranial deformation observable in two 
individuals. Material is wrapped around the heads of the other two 
individuals. The human remains are wrapped in hide and blankets, and 
date to the postcontact period. Wrapping of the deceased and cranial 
deformation are consistent with practices of the Chinook- and Sahaptin-
speaking groups. The other human remains removed from the Memaloose 
Islands also have been identified as Native American based on the 
presence of cranial deformation. The type of cranial deformation 
exhibited by most of these individuals is common among Chinookan-
speakers and far less common among Sahaptin-speakers.
    The Memaloose Islands were used by local Native American peoples 
for the burial of their dead during the postcontact period. The 
Memaloose Islands are within the traditional territory of Chinook- and 
Sahaptin-speaking Indian groups represented today by the Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation, Washington and the 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. 
Representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde, whose 
membership also includes Chinookan-speakers, have indicated that Upper 
and Lower Memaloose Islands are outside of its postcontact territory.
    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 136 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the American Museum of Natural 
History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 13 objects described 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 
American Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship

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of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation, Washington 
and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should contact Luc Litwinionek, Director of Cultural 
Resources, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 
79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, telephone (212) 769-5846, before 
December 31, 2003. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Indian Nation, Washington and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Hoh 
Indian Tribe of the Hoh Indian Reservation, Washington; Jamestown 
S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal Community of the 
Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; Lummi Tribe of the Lummi 
Reservation, Washington; Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian 
Reservation, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot 
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually 
Reservation, Washington; Nooksack Indian Tribe of Washington; Port 
Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, Washington; 
Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; Quileute Tribe 
of the Quileute Reservation, Washington; Quinault Tribe of the Quinault 
Reservation, Washington; Samish Indian Tribe, Washington; Shoalwater 
Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation, Washington; 
Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington; 
Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington; 
Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington; the Swinomish Indians of the 
Swinomish Reservation, Washington; Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip 
Reservation, Washington; and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe of Washington 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 24, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-29768 Filed 11-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-50-S