[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42671-42672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11997]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Thomas Burke 
Memorial Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, 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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the control of the Thomas Burke 
Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke Museum), University of 
Washington, Seattle, WA, that meet the definition of ``unassociated 
funerary objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    In 1894, cultural items were removed from Point Barrow (formerly 
known as Cape Smyth), AK. Cape Smyth was located on the southern end of 
Point Barrow Spit. The cultural items were removed from a grave by Dr. 
James Taylor White and donated by Mrs. James T. White to the Burke 
Museum in 1904 (Burke Accession. 846). No human remains are 
present. The 13 unassociated funerary objects are 4 bead bracelets 
(including loose beads), 1 amulet, 1 pipe cleaner with beads, 5 
bracelet fragments (including loose beads), and 2 seed bead bracelets 
strung on sinew.
    The unassociated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with 
the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government based on 
geographic and ethnographic information. Point Barrow is located in 
Northern Alaska within the traditional territory of the Inupiat people. 
The Utqiagvigmiut Inpuiat community occupied the area immediately 
surrounding Point Barrow. The cultural items are consistent with the 
material culture of the Inupiat. Descendants of the Inupiat are members

[[Page 42672]]

of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government. 
Furthermore, consultation with tribal representatives confirmed that 
the preponderance of the evidence suggests the cultural items can be 
culturally affiliated to the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat 
Traditional Government.
    Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 13 cultural items 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have 
been removed from a specific burial site of an Native American 
individual. Officials of the Burke Museum 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 unassociated 
funerary objects and the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional 
Government.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-2282, before August 
28, 2006. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the 
Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Native Village of 
Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: June 20, 2006
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-11997 Filed 7-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S