[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 159 (Thursday, August 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47517-47518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13603]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: 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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the control of the 
Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke Museum), 
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The human remains were removed 
from Judd Creek on Vashon Island, King 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

[[Page 47518]]

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 Burke Museum 
and University of Washington professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot 
Reservation, Washington and Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, 
Washington.
    In 1951, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from Vashon Island near Judd Creek in King County, WA, by 
landowner Vernon Lamoreux. The human remains were donated to the Burke 
Museum in 1951, but were not formally accessioned until 1965 (Burke 
Accn. 1965-78). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on geographic location and after further review by a 
University of Washington physical anthropologist, the human remains 
have been determined to be Native American. Although the cranium is 
highly fragmented, morphological evidence such as the presence of 
wormian bones and cranial deformity typical of Native American remains 
is evident. Vashon Island is within the usual and accustomed territory 
of the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington. The 
S'Homamish occupied Vashon Island during the mid 1800s. In 1854, George 
Gibbs identified the Puyallupahmish, T'Kawkamish, and S'Homamish as 
being from the Puyallup River and Vashon Island area. Under the terms 
of the Treaty of Medicine Creek, the S'Homamish people were removed to 
the Puyallup Reservation. Descendants of the S'Homamish are members of 
the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington.
    Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. 
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 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 Dr. 
Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 353010, 
Seattle, WA 98195-3010], telephone (206) 685-2282, before September 18, 
2006. 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.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Muckleshoot 
Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington, and Puyallup 
Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: July 24, 2006
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-13603 Filed 8-16-06; 8:45 am]
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