[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53601-53602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18486]


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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 and associated funerary 
objects in the control of the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State 
Museum (Burke Museum), University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Douglas and 
Kittitas Counties, 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 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; Confederated 
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of 
Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    In 1920, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from ``the Vulcan Burial,'' also designated as the ``Hall 
Site 9,'' in the area surrounding Vulcan (the vicinity of 45-
DO-6) in either Douglas or Kittitas County, WA, during a museum 
expedition led by F. S. Hall. The human remains were accessioned by the 
Burke Museum in 1920 (Burke Accn. 1860). No known individual 
was identified. The 15 associated funerary objects are 1 lot of ochre, 
1 lot of shell beads, 1 lot of stone beads, 1 lot of abalone shell 
fragments, 1 lot of burned organic material, 1 lot of shell beads, 1 
utilized flake, 2 modified bone fragments, 1 turquoise pendant, and 5 
coprolites.
    In 1921, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were

[[Page 53602]]

removed from 45-KT-10, also designated as Hall Site 5, Kittitas County, 
WA, during a museum expedition lead by F. S. Hall, who was assisted by 
Earl O. Roberts and M. Mohr. The collection was accessioned by the 
Burke Museum in 1920 (Burke Accn. 1860). No known individuals 
were identified. The 93 funerary objects are 6 lots of bone (bird and 
mammal), 8 bracelet fragments (bone or antler), 1 bone comb, 47 chipped 
stone tools, 4 harpoon valves, 7 metal fragments, 8 modified bone 
fragments, 6 bone points, 2 lots of shell, 2 shell pendants, 1 tooth, 
and 1 bird whistle.
    In 1920, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were removed from Hall Area V, between Wenatchee and Vantage Ferry, 
Kittitas County, WA, during a museum expedition lead by F. S. Hall, and 
assisted by Earl O. Roberts and M. Mohr. The human remains were 
accessioned by the Burke Museum in 1920 (Burke Accn. 1860). No 
known individuals were identified. The 28 funerary objects are 4 
modified antler fragments, 1 lot of organic matter, 1 lot of dentalium 
shells with cedar, 1 lot of dentalium shells and leather, 1 lot of 
burned bone and organic matter, 1 bone tool, 2 lots of copper ore 
fragments (1 with leather fragments), 1 modified bone, 1 lot of 
decorated bone fragments (possibly pendant fragments), 1 lot of shell 
fragments, 5 lots of shell, 1 antler wedge, 2 fiber fragments, 1 
cordage fragment, 1 bird bone, 1 tooth, and 3 wood fragments.
    Early and late published ethnographic documentation indicates that 
the sites described above are the aboriginal territory of the Moses-
Columbia or Sinkiuse, and the Yakima (Daugherty 1973, Miller 1998, 
Mooney 1896, Ray 1936, Spier 1936). Descendents of the Moses-Columbia, 
Sinkiuse, and Yakima are members of the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, Washington and Confederated Tribes and Bands of 
the Yakama Nation, Washington. Furthermore, information provided by the 
two tribes during consultation indicates that the aboriginal ancestors 
occupying this area were highly mobile and traveled the landscape for 
gathering resources as well as trade, and are part of the more broadly 
defined Plateau communities. Descendents of these Plateau communities 
are now widely dispersed and enrolled in the Confederated Tribes and 
Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; 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 described above represent the 
physical remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Burke Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 136 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 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 and Bands 
of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho. Furthermore, 
officials of the Burke Museum have determined that there is a cultural 
relationship between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
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 and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-
2282, before October 19, 2007. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho for themselves and 
on behalf of 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 and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes 
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a 
non-federally recognized Indian group that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 30, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-18486 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]
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