[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 194 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58743-58744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20199]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Pacific Lutheran University, 
Tacoma, WA

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 in the possession of 
Pacific Lutheran University, Pierce County, Tacoma, WA. The human 
remains were removed from a site in Parkland, Pierce 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 in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Pacific 
Lutheran University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
Washington; Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe 
of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of 
the Nisqually Reservation, Washington; and Puyallup Tribe of the 
Puyallup Reservation, Washington.
    Prior to 1938, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unidentified site in Parkland, Pierce 
County, WA. The human remains were originally transferred to a Pacific 
Lutheran University faculty member who loaned them, along with other 
items from the same site, to the University of Washington, Burke 
Museum, Seattle, WA, in 1938. Most of the 1938 loan was returned in the 
early 1940s. However, the human remains were discovered in the Burke 
Museum's collections in 1995 and transferred to Pacific Lutheran 
University. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Funerary objects originally found with the remains, but no longer 
in the possession of either the Burke Museum or Pacific Lutheran 
University, indicate the human remains were interred during the 
historic period. The burial site location is located within the area 
ceded to the United States by the Niskwali, Payullup, Steilacoom, 
Squaxin, S'Homamish, Stehchass, T'Peeksin, Squiaitl, and Sa-heh-wamish 
in the treaty of Medicine Creek, December 26, 1854. The burial site 
location is believed to be located within the area recognized by a 
final judgment of the United States Court of Claim as the aboriginal 
land of the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington.
    Officials of Pacific Lutheran University have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of one

[[Page 58744]]

individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of Pacific Lutheran 
University also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between the Native American human remains and the Puyallup Tribe 
of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact David R. 
Huelsbeck, Anthropology Department, Pacific Lutheran University, 
Tacoma, WA 98447, telephone (253) 535-7196, before November 7, 2005. 
Repatriation of the human remains to the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup 
Reservation, Washington may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    Pacific Lutheran University is responsible for notifying the the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Cowlitz 
Indian Tribe, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot 
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually 
Reservation, Washington; and Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup 
Reservation, Washington that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 1, 2005.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-20199 Filed 10-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S