[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 62 (Monday, April 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 15724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5978]


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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 Chelan 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. 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 and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington and 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington.
    Sometime before 1948, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from Stehekin in Chelan County, WA, by Harold 
Wheeler. In 1948, the human remains were loaned to the Burke Museum by 
Mr. Wheeler (Burke Accn. 3512). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains were previously determined to not be Native 
American. After further review based on osteological information, the 
preponderance of the evidence identifies the human remains as Native 
American.
    According to early and late ethnographic documentation, the 
Stehekin area was occupied by the Chelan tribe and is their aboriginal 
land (Miller 1998; Ray 1936; Ruby and Brown 1986; and Spier 1936). 
Information provided during consultation by representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington confirms 
that the Chelan tribe traditionally occupied the Stehekin area. 
Descendants of the Chelan Tribe 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 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.
    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 May 2, 2007. 
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 and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington and Confederated 
Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: March 12, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-5978 Filed 3-30-07; 8:45 am]
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