[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50443-50444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20029]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13482; 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 September 18, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
35101,

[[Page 50444]]

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, 
Seattle, WA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Skagit 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

    In 1960, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from the Dunlap/Sedro Wooley High School Site (45-SK-35) 
on the Skagit River delta in Skagit County, WA. The human remains were 
removed during a University of Washington Field School Expedition led 
by Dr. Robert E. Greengo, and the human remains were transferred to the 
Burke Museum sometime before 1995 (Burke Accn. 1995-59). No 
known individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects 
are a bird bone and a mammal bone.
    In the 1970s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Conway Site (45-SK-59) on the Skagit 
River delta in Skagit County, WA. The human remains were removed by Dr. 
Gail Thompson in the 1970s and transferred to the Burke Museum in 1983 
(Burke Accn. 1983-11). No known individuals were identified. 
No funerary objects are present.
    The sites described in this notice are located on the North and 
South Forks of the Skagit River and are documented archaeological 
sites. The human remains in this notice have been determined to be 
Native American based on archaeological evidence. The Conway Site 
includes both an archaeological wet site component as well as a shell 
midden component and dates to approximately 670 radiocarbon years ago. 
Material culture observed at the sites, projectile points, carved 
antler fragments, ochre, toggling harpoons, faunal material and 
basketry, is consistent with Native American Coast Salish material 
culture.
    Linguistically, Native American speakers of the Northern dialect of 
the Lushootseed language claim cultural heritage to the Skagit River 
delta area. Historical and anthropological sources (Amoss 1978, Mooney 
1896, Spier 1936, Swanton 1952) indicate that the Swinomish, Lower 
Skagit, and Upper Skagit people occupied and had village sites within 
the Skagit River delta area. Oral history provided by the Stillaguamish 
and legal testimony during the Indian Claims Commission decisions also 
indicates that the Stillaguamish utilized the Skagit River delta and 
Skagit Bay area for hunting, fishing, and clamming (Grady 2012:3). The 
Indian Claims Commission determined that the Conway site was within the 
aboriginal territory of the Kikiallus and the Dunlap/Sedro Wooley High 
School Site was within the aboriginal territory of the Lower Skagit. 
Today, descendants of Kikiallus are members of the Stillaguamish Tribe 
of Indians of Washington (previously listed as Stillaguamish Tribe of 
Washington); 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). Today, the 
Lower Skagit are represented by the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation of Washington. The Upper Skagit are represented by the 
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe.

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 four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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 associated funerary objects and the 
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.

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 Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 35101, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849, 
email [email protected], by September 18, 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; Tulalip Tribes of Washington (previously listed as the 
Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington); and the Upper 
Skagit Indian Tribe may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying The Consulted Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 10, 2013.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-20029 Filed 8-16-13; 8:45 am]
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