[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 159 (Thursday, August 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47518-47519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13604]


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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 Kettle Falls in Stevens 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 Burke Museum 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington and Spokane 
Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, Washington.
    In 1931, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the east end of Kettle Falls state bridge in Stevens 
County, WA. The human remains were removed by Verne Ray who identified 
the burial as a ``Colville burial.'' Museum accession records do not 
state how this determination was made. The human remains were 
accessioned by the Burke Museum in 1931 (Burke Accession. 
2562). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on the geographic and accession documentation, the 
preponderance of evidence demonstrates that the three individuals are 
of Native American ancestry. Kettle Falls has been a historically 
important center for fishing and trading for Native Americans (Ruby and 
Brown 1986:36). Kettle Falls is located within the aboriginal territory 
of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington. 
Early and late ethnographic sources identify Kettle Falls as an area 
associated with either the Colville or the Lakes tribes or bands 
(Kennedy and Bouchard 1998; Mooney 1896; Ray 1936; Spier 1936; Swanton 
1952). Both the Colville and the Lakes tribes were part of the twelve 
tribes or bands that comprise the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington. The Colville Reservation was created by 
Executive Order in 1872. Descendants of the Colville and Lakes tribes 
are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 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 three individuals 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 Confederated Tribes of the Colville 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 Confederated Tribes of 
the Colville Reservation, Washington may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated 
Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington and Spokane Tribe of the 
Spokane Reservation, Washington that this notice has been published.


[[Page 47519]]


    Dated: July 24, 2006
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-13604 Filed 8-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S