[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]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S