[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 5744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1967]


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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 possession of the 
Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke Museum), 
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The human remains were removed 
from Walla Walla 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; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of 
Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    In 1910, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from an island at Burbank on the Columbia River below 
Pasco, Walla Walla County, WA, by Mr. Herbert J. Mohr. In 1966, the 
human remains were received from Mr. Mohr and accessioned by the Burke 
Museum (Burke Accn. 1966-24). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains have been identified as Native American based on 
osteological analysis of the cranium, as well as geographic 
information. The specific burial context of this individual is unknown, 
however, the human remains were found on an island on the Columbia 
River, which is consistent with ethnographic burial practices 
documented among the Palouse, Walla Walla, Wanapum, and Yakama.
    Burbank is on the southeast bank of the confluence of the Snake and 
Columbia Rivers in Walla Walla County, WA. This area is located within 
the overlapping aboriginal territory of the Nez Perce, Palouse, Walla 
Walla, Wanapum, and Yakama. According to Indian Land Areas Judicially 
Established by the Indian Court of Claims in 1978 (Index 96), 
as well as early and late ethnographic documentation, this area is 
within the aboriginal territory of the Walla Walla. Furthermore, early 
ethnographic evidence indicates that the Palouse, Wanapum, and Yakama 
also occupied this area. Descendants of the Palouse, Walla Walla, 
Wanapum, and Yakama are members of the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.
    Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains listed 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 Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; and Nez Perce Tribe 
of Idaho. Furthermore, officials of the Burke Museum have determined 
there is a cultural relationship between the human remains and the 
Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    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 March 9, 2007. 
Repatriation of the human remains to the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Confederated Tribes 
and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington on behalf of themselves and 
the Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group, 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; Confederated Tribes of 
the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band, 
a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: January 10, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-1967 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S