[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 212 (Thursday, November 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 64562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18482]
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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 possession 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.
The 1,549 cultural items are 1 copper ore, 5 abalone shell gorgets,
5 shell pendants, 2 shell fragments, 1 steatite pipe, 2 points, 1,530
beads, 1 basketry fragment with leather, 1 iron spear, and 1 iron
axehead.
Between 1950 and 1960, Dr. Harold Bergen, an avocational
archeologist, collected funerary objects from the Bergen site
20, along the foot of a rocky bluff outside of Selah, Yakima
County, WA. Ten burials were found in a flexed position with stones
placed on the human remains. The human remains were in a fragile
condition and were not collected with the exception of two crania. The
crania were not accessioned by the Burke Museum and the whereabouts of
the two individuals are unknown. In 1989, the unassociated funerary
objects were donated to the Burke Museum (Burke Accession
1989-57). The 1,546 unassociated funerary objects are 1 copper
ore, 5 abalone shell gorgets, 5 shell pendants, 2 shell fragments, 1
steatite pipe, 2 points, and 1,530 beads.
Ethnographic and archeological evidence indicates that rockslide
burials in talus slopes were customary burial practices of the Yakama.
It was also customary for the Yakama to bury individuals with many of
their personal belongings. The burial practices and funerary objects
are consistent with practices of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington. Selah is within the aboriginal territory
of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington
and within the land claims boundaries of Indian Claims Commission
decisions (12 ICC 301 (1963); 7 ICC 794 (1959)).
In 1995, one cultural item was accessioned by the museum when it
was found in collections (Burke Accession 1995-64). The
circumstances surrounding how the cultural item came into Burke Mueum's
collection is unknown. According to museum documentation, the cultural
item was collected from a burial immediately south of Priest Rapids
Dam, Yakima County, WA. The one unassociated funerary object is a
fragment of leather attached to a basketry fragment. Museum
documentation includes a note indicating it was from the Earnest Combes
Collection, that copper was also found with the burial, and the human
remains were those of a child. The human remains and copper are not
located at the Burke Museum and no further information could be
located.
Ethnographic and archeological data suggests that deceased Yakama
people were commonly wrapped in buckskin, blankets, and tule mats in
preparation for burial. The leather and basketry fragments are
consistent with this information. Priest Rapids Dam is within the
aboriginal territory of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, Washington.
In 1896, two cultural items were acquired through trade with the
Hudson Bay Company by Dr. R.E Stewart. According to museum
documentation, the cultural items were found on a grave and are from
Satus Creek, WA. In 1905, the cultural items were donated to the Burke
Museum (Burke Accession 40). The two unassociated funerary
objects are one iron spear and one iron axe head.
The two cultural items are consistent with other funerary objects
known to be associated with Yakama burials. The Se'tas-lema and Lower
Yakama bands were the groups ethnographically noted to have occupied
the Satus Creek area. Satus Creek is within the aboriginal territory of
the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington.
Satus Creek falls within the lands ceded in the Yakama Treaty of 1855.
Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 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 a 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 1,549 unassociated funerary objects and
the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington.
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
December 4, 2006. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to
the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington may
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington that this notice has
been published.
Dated: September 28, 2006
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-18482 Filed 11-1-06; 8:45 am]
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