[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45958-45960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18323]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13406; 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 29, 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 removed from Island 
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 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 Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation; 
Samish Indian Nation (previously listed as the Samish Indian Tribe, 
Washington); Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe; Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians 
of Washington (previously listed as Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington); 
Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of Washington; Tulalip 
Tribes of Washington (previously listed as the Tulalip Tribes of the 
Tulalip Reservation, Washington); and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1953 and 1955, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site 45-IS-77 in Island County, WA. The 
human remains were removed during a University of Washington Department 
of Anthropology Field Project led by Allan Bryan, and the human remains 
were accessioned by the Burke Museum in 1966 (Burke Accn. 
1966-94). While six burials were excavated, the Burke Museum 
only holds the remains for

[[Page 45959]]

``Burial 6''; the whereabouts of the other human remains is unknown. No 
known individuals were identified. The 32 associated funerary objects 
are 2 lots of unmodified wood; 1 wood grave stake; 2 metal objects; 1 
pair of scissors; 1 black plastic comb; 2 shells; 1 modified bone 
fragment; 1 unmodified bone fragment; 1 stone abrader; 1 .22 caliber 
gun; 3 bags of buttons (glass, porcelain, bone, copper); 8 U.S. coins; 
1 porcelain doll head; 1 bag containing metal buckle fragments; and 6 
composite artifact bags containing wood, nails, charcoal, pebbles, 
metal, leather, watch faces, a watch chain, and organic and inorganic 
materials.
    Burial methods at the site were varied and included the use of long 
and short wooden box coffins. The remains were found extended, or in 
flexed and semi-flexed positions, on the back and side. There was also 
evidence of cremation at the site. The burials appear to be from a 
contact time period, as evidenced by the transition into European 
burial customs and the presence of post-contact artifacts. One of the 
burials was dated to 1876 or later based on the presence of an 1876 
coin.
    In 1962, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from south of site 45-IS-14 in Island County, WA. The 
remains were removed by Richard Arild Johnson and donated to the Burke 
Museum in 1962 (Burke Accn. 1963-24). No known individuals 
were identified. The one associated funerary object is 1 lot/bag of 
pebbles, dirt and shell fragments.
    In 1953, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from site 45-IS-13 on Snatelum Point in Island County, WA. 
The human remains were removed during a University of Washington 
Department of Anthropology Field Project led by Allan Bryan, and the 
human remains were accessioned by the Burke Museum in 1966 (Burke Accn. 
1966-94). The human remains were loaned to the University of 
Washington Anthropology Department at an unknown date. The human 
remains were discovered in the Anthropology Department, stored with the 
physical anthropology remains in June 2010, and were then returned to 
the Burke Museum. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1926, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from San de Fuca in Island County, WA. The human remains 
were removed by John Armstrong from a shell mound near the site of old 
potlatch house and donated to the Burke Museum in 1926 (Burke Accn. 
2122). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Careless Bay in Island County, WA. The human remains 
were removed by Bob Atwell and Emil Gabeline and subsequently donated 
to the Burke Museum (Burke Accn. 1963-50). No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1941, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Utsalady on Camano Island in Island County, WA. The 
human remains were removed by Dr. Alfred E. Hudson and University of 
Washington archeology students. The human remains were accessioned by 
the Burke Museum in 1941 (Burke Accn. 3361). No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    All of the human remains described above were removed from sites in 
the Penn Cove area on Whidbey Island or on the northwestern shore of 
Camano Island. Several sites are documented archeological or shell 
midden sites. The human remains in this notice have been determined to 
be Native American based on a combination of archaeological, 
geographic, or physical anthropology evidence.
    Linguistically, Native American speakers of the Northern dialect of 
the Lushootseed language claim cultural heritage to the Northern Puget 
Sound area. Culturally, Native Americans from the Northern Puget Sound 
area are members of Southern Coast Salish tribes. Historical and 
anthropological sources (Deur 2009, Mooney 1896, Roberts 1975, Ruby and 
Brown 1986, Spier 1936, Swanton 1952) indicate that the Kikiallus, 
Swinomish, Lower Skagit, and Stillaguamish peoples occupied and had 
village sites in the Penn Cove area and on the northwestern shore of 
Camano Island. Although the Indian Claims Commission determined that 
the sites near Penn Cove on Whidbey Island fell within the aboriginal 
territory of the Lower Skagit, shortly after 1855, anthropologists and 
historians described this area as a mixed community. Penn Cove was one 
of the communities Stillaguamish and other tribes were told to move to 
after being forced to leave their villages on the mainland (Deur 2009, 
Grady 2012).
    Today, descendants of Kikiallus are members of the Stillaguamish 
Tribe of Indians of Washington (previously listed as Stillaguamish 
Tribe of Washington); Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of 
Washington; and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington (previously listed as 
the Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington). Today, the 
Lower Skagit are primarily members of the Swinomish Indians of the 
Swinomish Reservation of Washington and the Tulalip Tribes of 
Washington (previously listed as the Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip 
Reservation, Washington).

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 seven individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 33 objects 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 Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of 
Washington (previously listed as Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington); 
Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of Washington; and the 
Tulalip Tribes of Washington (previously listed as the Tulalip Tribes 
of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington).

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 29, 2013. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Stillaguamish 
Tribe of Indians of Washington (previously listed as Stillaguamish 
Tribe of Washington); Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of 
Washington; and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington (previously listed as 
the Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington) may proceed.

[[Page 45960]]

    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying The Consulted Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 8, 2013.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-18323 Filed 7-29-13; 8:45 am]
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