[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47225-47226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18691]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arizona State Museum, University 
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

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 and 
control of the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 
The human remains were removed from Franklin 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 Arizona 
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez 
Perce Tribe, Idaho (previously listed as Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and 
Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    In 1976, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from Strawberry Island on the Snake River in Franklin 
County, WA, by Mr. Gene Meyers, a member of the Mid-Columbia 
Archaeological Society. Mr. Meyers gave the human remains to Dr. David 
G. Rice of the University of Idaho. In 1976, the human remains were 
received from Dr. Rice and accessioned by the Arizona State Museum 
(Accession No. 76-76). No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Morphological traits of the cranial remains indicate that the 
individuals were Native American. The specific location on Strawberry 
Island where the human remains were collected is unknown. However, the 
excellent state of preservation of the human remains suggests that they 
were obtained from the Miller Site (45FR5), which was occupied during 
late prehistoric or protohistoric times (approximately A.D.1400-1750).
    Strawberry Island is located on the Snake River near its confluence 
with the Columbia River in Franklin County, WA. Treaties between the 
United States Government and the Nez Perce, Yakama, Walla Walla, 
Cayuse, Palouse, and Umatilla tribes established the Snake River as the 
common boundary between the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation to the north and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation to the south. Furthermore, archeological evidence, oral 
tradition, and historic evidence establishes a continuity of occupation 
and seasonal use of Strawberry Island from prehistoric times to the 
arrival of Europeans in the region.

[[Page 47226]]

The island was an important village site and burial site for the people 
of the Columbia Plateau. The island and its immediate vicinity were 
also used for camping, fishing, food gathering, grazing of horses and 
as a location for important social gatherings of the tribes. A report 
prepared in 2002 by Teara Farrow for the Walla Walla District of the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identifies the island and its immediate 
vicinity as a Traditional Cultural Property of the Waluuluapam (``Walla 
Walla people''), Imatalamlama (``Umatilla people''), and Weyiiletpuu 
(``Cayuse people''). It was also an important area for the Paluus 
(``Palouse''), Yakama, Niimiipuu (``Nez Perce people''), and Wanapam 
(``river people'' or Wanapum). Descendants of the Walla Walla, 
Umatilla, Cayuse, Palouse, Yakama, Nez Perce, and Wanapum are members 
of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez 
Perce Tribe, Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group.
    Officials of the Arizona State Museum 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 Arizona State Museum have also 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; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho. Furthermore, officials 
of the Arizona State Museum have determined that there is a cultural 
relationship between the human remains 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 should contact John 
McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, Arizona State Museum, University of 
Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, telephone (520) 626- 2950, before September 
12, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains to the Confederated Tribes 
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm 
Springs Reservation of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho on behalf of 
themselves and the Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Arizona State Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez 
Perce Tribe, Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 30, 2008
Daniel Odess,
Assistant Associate Director, Park Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. E8-18691 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S