[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24874-24875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12282]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 
Vancouver, 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 and 
control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, WA. The human remains 
were removed from Clark 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 
superintendent, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Fort 
Vancouver National Historic Site professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of

[[Page 24875]]

the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Grand 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; Cowlitz 
Indian Tribe, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot 
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually 
Reservation, Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Spokane Tribe of 
the Spokane Reservation, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington; 
and three non-Federally recognized Indian groups - Clatsop-Nehalem 
Confederated Tribes, Snoqualmoo Tribe, and Wanapum Band.
    In the 1950s, human remains representing a minimum of nine 
individuals were removed from the I-5 corridor in Clark County, WA. The 
human remains were displaced by I-5 construction and donated to Fort 
Vancouver National Historic Site. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1977, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from the village area of Fort Vancouver in Clark County, 
WA, during archeological excavations in preparation for planned 
modifications to State Route 14. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    The age of the human remains is unknown and no other information is 
available about either of the sites from which they were removed. The 
available evidence is insufficient to identify an earlier group and 
therefore it is not possible to make a determination of cultural 
affiliation.
    Officials of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of 11 individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), a 
relationship of shared group identity cannot reasonably be traced 
between the Native American human remains and any present-day Indian 
tribe.
    The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review 
Committee (Review Committee) is responsible for recommending specific 
actions for disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains. In 
August 2008, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site requested that the 
Review Committee recommend disposition of the 11 culturally 
unidentifiable human remains to the Vancouver Inter-Tribal Consortium 
on behalf of the following signatories: Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated 
Tribes; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Grand 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; Cowlitz Indian Tribe, 
Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, 
Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, 
Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Snoqualmoo Tribe; Spokane 
Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of 
Washington; and Wanapum Band. All have historical connections to 
present-day Vancouver, WA, and have requested the human remains through 
the Vancouver Inter-Tribal Consortium. The Review Committee considered 
the proposal at its October 11-12, 2008 meeting and recommended 
disposition of the human remains to the Vancouver Inter-Tribal 
Consortium on behalf of the Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Grand 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; Cowlitz Indian Tribe, 
Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, 
Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, 
Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Snoqualmoo Tribe; Spokane 
Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of 
Washington; and Wanapum Band.
    An April 3, 2009 letter on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior 
from the Designated Federal Official transmitted the authorization for 
the park to effect disposition of the physical remains of the 
culturally unidentifiable individuals to the Vancouver Inter-Tribal 
Consortium on behalf of the 15 Indian tribes listed above contingent on 
the publication of a Notice of Inventory Completion in the Federal 
Register. This notice fulfills that requirement.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Tracy 
Fortmann, superintendent, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 612 E. 
Reserve St., Vancouver, WA 98661-3897, telephone (360) 816-6205, before 
June 25, 2009. Disposition of the human remains to the Vancouver Inter-
Tribal Consortium on behalf of the Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Grand 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; Cowlitz Indian Tribe, 
Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, 
Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, 
Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Snoqualmoo Tribe; Spokane 
Tribe of the Spokane Reservation, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of 
Washington; and Wanapum Band may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is responsible for notifying 
the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Grand 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; Cowlitz Indian Tribe, 
Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, 
Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, 
Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Spokane Tribe of the Spokane 
Reservation, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington; and three 
non-Federally recognized Indian groups - Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated 
Tribes, Snoqualmoo Tribe, and Wanapum Band that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 5, 2009.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-12282 Filed 5-22-09; 8:45 am]
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