[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 47 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10764-10765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5326]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Northwest Museum, Whitman 
College, Walla Walla, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service.

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 
Northwest Museum (formerly Maxey Museum), Whitman College, Walla Walla, 
WA. The human remains were removed from Mason 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 Whitman 
College and Northwest Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish 
Reservation, Washington.
    Sometime between 1874 and 1907, human remains representing a 
minimum of four individuals were removed from the vicinity of the 
Skokomish Reservation, located in present-day Mason County, WA, by 
Reverend Myron Eells, Congregational Missionary. After Rev. Eells 
death, the human remains were donated to Whitman College by his wife on 
February 15, 1907, (WHIT-E-549, Eells2557; WHIT-X-0011, WHIT-
E-550, Eells 2558; WHIT-E-551, Eells 2559, WHIT-E-
552). No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    While Rev. Eells did not always indicate cultural affiliation, he 
collected mainly from the Skokomish and S'Klallam Tribes. Rev. Eells 
occasionally noted tribal affiliations and/or places of origin for 
items in the collection. Some of Rev. Eells notes on the human remains 
are stated in

[[Page 10765]]

museum records, which identify the human remains as Native American. In 
addition, the human remains were determined to be Native American based 
on skeletal morphology, as well as on museum records of the 
provenience.
    The human remains are most likely culturally affiliated with tribes 
whose aboriginal lands lie in the Hood River region of the Puget Sound 
of northwestern Washington. Anthropological evidence, including 
continuities of technology and material culture, indicates continuous 
occupation by the Skokomish (also known as Twana) peoples over the last 
2,000 years in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. The 
historical biography and papers of Rev. Myron Eells, and consultation 
evidence with tribal representatives of the Skokomish Indian Tribe of 
the Skokomish Reservation, Washington, further support Skokomish 
occupation.
    Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College 
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 Skokomish Indian 
Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Brian 
Dott, Director, Northwest Museum, Maxey Hall, Whitman College, 345 
Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509) 527-5776, before 
April 13, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains to the Skokomish 
Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington may proceed after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Northwest Museum, Whitman College is responsible for notifying 
the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 26, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-5326 Filed 3-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S