[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 44595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17714]



[[Page 44595]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13407; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Thomas Burke Memorial Washington 
State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, University 
of Washington (Burke Museum), has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives 
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in 
this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request 
to the Burke Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer 
of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations 
stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Burke Museum at the address in this 
notice by August 23, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
35101, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Burke Museum. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were most likely removed 
from the upper Columbia River Plateau, 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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by the Burke Museum professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously listed as the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon); Confederated 
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe 
(previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho); and the Wanapum 
Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group (hereafter referred to as 
``The Tribes and The Indian Group'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were most likely removed from the upper Columbia River 
Plateau, WA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
found in an unlabeled bag in the Burke Museum's Ethnology collection in 
1996. No known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary 
object is a bag containing copper fragments (including rolled copper, 
thin hammered fragments, beads, buttons, a necklace and blanket pin, 
melted glass beads, and one projectile point).
    The associated funerary objects described in this notice are 
consistent with burial materials found in archaeological sites in 
Benton and Grant Counties, WA. The human remains in this notice have 
been determined to be Native American based on archaeological evidence.
    Early and late published ethnographic documentation indicates that 
the upper Columbia River Plateau was the aboriginal territory of the 
Moses-Columbia or Sinkiuse, and the Yakima (Daugherty 1973, Miller 
1998, Mooney 1896, Ray 1936, Spier 1936) whose descendants are 
represented today by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. 
Furthermore, information provided by the tribes during consultation 
indicates that the aboriginal ancestors occupying this area were highly 
mobile and traveled the landscape for gathering resources as well as 
trade. Descendants of these Plateau communities are now widely 
dispersed and enrolled as members of The Tribes and The Indian Group.

Determinations Made by the Burke Museum

    Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that:
     Based on archaeological evidence, the human remains have 
been determined to be Native American.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the 
death rite or ceremony.
     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 Tribes and The Indian Group.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 35101, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849, 
email [email protected], by August 23, 2013. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects The Tribes and The Indian 
Group (if joined) may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying The Tribes and The 
Indian Group that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 27, 2013.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-17714 Filed 7-23-13; 8:45 am]
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