[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 106 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30828-30829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10729]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Slater Museum of Natural History, 
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, 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 
Slater Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, 
WA. The human remains were removed from Oak Harbor, Island 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 the Slater 
Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound professional staff 
and with help from a consultant in consultation with representatives of 
the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, Washington and 
Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington.
    In 1936, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from Oak Harbor, Island County, WA, by Preston Wright. The 
human remains were later donated to the Slater Museum of Natural 
History, University of Puget, by Mr. Wright. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The individuals are most likely of Native American ancestry as 
indicated by morphological features.
    The geographical location where the human remains were recovered is 
consistent with the historically documented territory of the Lower 
Skagit tribe. Ethnographic and historical sources place the Lower 
Skagit tribe in the location of Oak Harbor (Tribes of Western 
Washington and Northwestern Oregon, Dall 1877; ICC 1974 Final Decision; 
Distribution of Tribes of the Upper Columbia Region in Washington, 
Oregon, and Idaho, Mooney 1896; A History of the Swinomish Tribal 
Community, Roberts 1975; The Coast Salish of Puget Sound, Smith 1941; 
Tribal Distribution in Washington, Spier, 1936; Identity, Treaty 
Status, and Fisheries of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Communities, Lane 
1978; ICC Decision for Skagit, Docket No. 294; ICC Decision for 
Snohomish, Docket No. 125; ICC Decision for Snoqualmie, Docket No. 93; 
United States v. State of Washington 1985, 626 Federal Supplement 
1405). There was extensive travel of the Puget Sound waterways, 
including the Oak Harbor area, by other tribes; however, the 
individuals are most likely Lower Skagit. Descendants of the Lower 
Skagit are members of the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation, Washington.
    Based on provenience, historical documentation, and tribal 
consultation there is a reasonable belief that the human remains share 
a common ancestry with members of the tribes now represented by the 
Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, Washington.
    Officials of the Slater Museum of Natural History, University of 
Puget Sound 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 Slater Museum 
of Natural History, University of Puget Sound 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

[[Page 30829]]

Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Alyce 
DeMarais, Associate Dean, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner, 
Tacoma, WA 98416, telephone (253) 879-3207, before July 5, 2007. 
Repatriation of the human remains to the Swinomish Indians of the 
Swinomish Reservation, Washington may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Slater Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound is 
responsible for notifying the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation, Washington and Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, 
Washington that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 4, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-10729 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]
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