[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2527-2528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-562]


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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 Dash Point, Pierce 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 Slater 
Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound professional staff 
and consultants in consultation with representatives of the Muckleshoot 
Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Nisqually 
Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, Washington; and Puyallup 
Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from the vicinity of Dash Point, Pierce 
County, WA, by Dr. T.H. Long. In October 1936, the human remains were 
given to the museum by Ms. Betty Long. 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 numerous historical 
and ethnographic reports documenting the territory of the Puyallup 
Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington. Dash Point is located 
within the revised boundaries of the Puyallup Indian Reservation 
(1857), which is bordered to the north by the boundary between King and 
Pierce Counties. The Indian Claims Commission determined Dash Point to 
be within the exclusive territory of the Puyallup Tribe at the time of 
treaty signing (17 Ind. Cl. Comm. 1, April 25, 1966). In addition, 
based on information provided during consultation with tribal 
representatives, there is a reasonable belief that the human remains 
share a common ancestry with members of the tribes now represented by 
the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup 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 Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup 
Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Peter Wimberger, Director, Slater Museum of Natural History, 1500 N. 
Warner, Tacoma, WA 98416, (253) 879-2784, before February

[[Page 2528]]

14, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains to the Puyallup Tribe of 
the Puyallup Reservation, Washington may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Slater Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, 
Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, 
Washington; and Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 7, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-562 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S