[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2524-2525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-557]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, 
Puyallup, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 2525]]

    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 
Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, Puyallup, WA. The human remains were 
removed from La Plata County, CO.
    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 Paul H. 
Karshner Memorial Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute 
Reservation, Colorado.
    In the 1940s, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from La Plata County, CO. The human remains 
were donated by Mark Porter in the 1940s. It is unknown how Mr. Porter 
acquired the human remains. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    This individual is the only recorded donation by Mr. Porter found 
in the museum's inventory book. However, Mr. Porter was known to have 
collected Native American objects. Based on the collecting practices of 
the donor, the human remains are reasonably believed to be Native 
American. In addition, the museum's inventory book identifies the human 
remains as being ``native'' and from the western Colorado region. The 
western Colorado area is known to be the aboriginal lands for the 
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado. 
Based on museum records and geographical location, officials of the 
Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum reasonably believe that the human 
remains are Native American and culturally affiliated to the Southern 
Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado.
    Officials of the Paul H. Karshner Memorial 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 Paul H. Karshner Memorial 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 Southern Ute Indian 
Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Jay 
Reifel, Assistant Superintendent, telephone (253) 840-8971 or Ms. Beth 
Bestrom, Museum Curator, Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum, 309 4th St. 
NE, Puyallup, WA 98372, telephone (253) 841-8748, before February 14, 
2008. Repatriation of the human remains to the Southern Ute Indian 
Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Paul H. Karshner Memorial Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern 
Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray 
Reservation, Utah; and Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain 
Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: December 7, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-557 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S