[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 5737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1971]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Central Washington University, 
Department of Anthropology and Museum, Ellensburg, WA, and 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 and associated funerary 
objects in the control of the Central Washington University, Department 
of Anthropology and Museum, Ellensburg, WA, and Thomas Burke Memorial 
Washington State Museum (Burke Museum), University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from a site upriver from the McNary Dam in Benton 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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Burke 
Museum and Central Washington University professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands 
of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon; and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon.
    In 1965, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from a rock shelter approximately six miles east of the 
McNary Dam (possibly site 45BN5) in Benton County, WA, by Ray Dunn and 
Fred Hendrix. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Hendrix donated the human remains to the 
Burke Museum in 1966 (Burke Accn. 1966-11). A portion of the 
human remains were transferred from the Burke Museum to Central 
Washington University in 1974. No known individuals were identified. 
The 107 associated funerary objects are 102 shell beads, 1 piece of 
cordage, and 4 wood fragments.
    Early and late ethnographic sources identify the area six miles 
east of the McNary Dam area territory of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and 
Umatilla tribes (Hale 1841; Stern 1998; Ray 1936). The Cayuse, Walla 
Walla, and Umatilla were separate tribes prior to the treaty on June 9, 
1855, but were removed to the Umatilla Reservation under the terms of 
the Walla Walla Treaty. The three tribes were officially confederated 
in 1949.
    The area east of McNary Dam was heavily utilized by the Umatilla, 
including the spring and summer camp tu'woyepa on the Oregon side of 
the Columbia River (Ray 1936), the Umatilla fishing site wanaket (Lane 
and Lane 1979), and the small fishing village xululupa on the 
Washington side of the Columbia River (Ray 1936). The human remains 
evidence extreme dental attrition, a trait that is common for Columbia 
plateau populations. The practice of burying individuals with personal 
belongings, including shell beads, is consistent with documented 
prehistoric and historic practices of the tribes that are members of 
the present-day Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, 
Oregon. The area six miles east from the McNary Dam is within the 
aboriginal territory of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon as determined by the Indian Claims Commission.
    The human remains have been determined to be Native American based 
on geographic, historical, and osteological evidence, and culturally 
affiliated to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, 
Oregon.
    Officials of the Burke Museum and Central Washington University 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human 
remains described above represent the physical remains of two 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Burke Museum 
and Central Washington University also have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 107 objects 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. Lastly, officials of the Burke Museum and Central Washington 
University 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 associated 
funerary objects and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-
2282 or Lourdes Henebry-DeLeon, NAGPRA Program Director, Department of 
Anthropology and Museum, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 
98926-7544, telephone (509) 963-2671, before March 9, 2007. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon 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; Confederated Tribes 
the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; and Confederated Tribes of the Warm 
Springs Reservation of Oregon that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 18, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-1971 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
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