[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 47 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10765-10766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5339]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Oregon State University,
Department of Anthropology, Corvallis, OR
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 control of Oregon
State University, Department of Anthropology, Corvallis, OR. The human
remains were removed from an unknown site in Oregon.
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 Oregon State
University, Department of Anthropology professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington and Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon. The Burns Paiute Tribe of the
Burns Paiute Indian Colony of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Coos,
Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the
Grande Ronde Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
Reservation of Oregon; Coquille Tribe of Oregon; Cow Creek Band of
Umpqua Indians of Oregon; and Klamath Tribes, Oregon were notified, but
did not participate in consultations about the human remains described
in this notice.
On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown area in Oregon (UNKNO-C89-
0001). No information regarding the accession of the human remains is
available. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
The first record of the human remains occurred during an inventory
in 2006. At that time, the human remains were recorded with the origins
``Flathead Oregon'' written on the skull. Subsequently, the human
remains were identified as Native American by departmental physical
anthropology faculty based on characteristics of the cranial bone
structure. There is evidence of slight parietal bossing and slight
flattening of the occipital.
Written evidence of cranial deformation in the Columbia Plateau is
rare; however, there is evidence that the American Northwest of the
Fraser and Columbia Rivers were the lead regions where orbicular,
tabular erect and tabular oblique sharpening of the head was most
common. The tabular forms of deformation were made by attaching boards
to the cradleboard with ropes either in a fixed position or free
position. Other forms, such as the annular, were created by wrapping
bands around the head. Archeological and historic evidence points to
head deformation as a common practice among the bands living along the
Columbia River. Lewis and Clark, as well as other early white explorers
on the Columbia River, mention head sharpening, especially among the
Shahaptain cultural group, the principal language of the Waluulapam
(Walla Walla), Imatalamlama (Umatilla), and some of the Weyiiletpuu
(Cayuse). Descendants of the Waluulapam, Imatalamlama, and Weyiiletpuu
are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ceded
6.4 million acres to the U.S. Government, including southeast
Washington and northeast Oregon. Oral histories have identified the
entire area of Wanaq'it, the north and south banks of the Columbia
River, and the islands in the vicinity as a Traditional Cultural
Property of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
This general area was traditionally used for fishing, food and resource
gathering, a travel corridor to the larger village areas near Umatilla
and Wallula, a habitation area, and burial grounds. Tribal
representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington concur that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon occupied the areas of southeast Washington and
northeast Oregon.
Officials of Oregon State University, Department of Anthropology
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 Oregon State
University, Department of Anthropology also have determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2),
[[Page 10766]]
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 Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr.
David McMurray, Oregon State University, Department of Anthropology,
238 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, telephone (541) 737-3850, before
April 13, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains to the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon may proceed after
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Oregon State University, Department of Anthropology is
responsible for notifying the Burns Paiute Tribe of the Burns Paiute
Indian Colony of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua
and Siuslaw Indians of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde
Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation,
Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon;
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Coquille
Tribe of Oregon; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of Oregon; and
Klamath Tribes, Oregon that this notice has been published.
Dated: February 4, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-5339 Filed 3-11-09; 8:45 am]
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