[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59956-59957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23821]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13772; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Thomas Burke Memorial Washington 
State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, and Central 
Washington University, Ellensburg, 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), and Central Washington University have 
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and have 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 or Central 
Washington University. 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 or Central Washington 
University at the address in this notice by October 30, 2013

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849, email 
[email protected], and Lourdes Henebry-DeLeon, Department of Anthropology, 
Central Washington University, 400 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA 
98926-7544, telephone (509) 963-2671, 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.

[[Page 59957]]

3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects under the control of the Burke Museum and Central 
Washington University. The human remains 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. 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 and Central Washington University 
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 the 
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 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Handel Farm in Skagit County, WA. The human 
remains were removed by Lt. Roger Ernesti, Arie Handel, and H. Thomas 
Cain and donated to the Burke Museum in 1937 (Burke Accn. 
2983, 2984). In 1974, the Burke Museum staff legally 
transferred human remains from this site to Central Washington 
University (CWU BK). No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1958 and 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, nine 
individuals were removed from the Tronsdal Site (45-SK-37) in Skagit 
County, WA. The human remains were removed by University of Washington 
Field School Expeditions led by Dr. Robert E. Greengo. The human 
remains were transferred to the Burke Museum in 1965 (Burke Accn. 
1965-72) and the remaining archeological collection and 
associated funerary objects were subsequently transferred in 1983 
(Burke Accn. 1983-10). In 1974, the Burke Museum staff legally 
transferred human remains from this site to Central Washington 
University (CWU BJ). No known individuals were identified. The eight 
associated funerary objects include one lot of red ochre, one antler 
tine, one metal fragment, one bird bone, one mammal bone, one sediment 
sample and two lots of unmodified shell, mammal, and fish bone 
fragments.
    The Handel farm site is located approximately five miles west of 
Mt. Vernon and the Tronsdal Site (45-SK-37) is located in the Skagit 
River delta. Both sites are located in southwest Skagit County. The 
human remains in this notice have been determined to be Native American 
based on biological and archeological evidence. The Tronsdal Site is a 
shell midden site. Material culture observed at the site include 
projectile points, mauls, adze blades, red ochre, bone bipoints and 
faunal material is consistent with Native American Coast Salish 
material culture.
    Based on archeological evidence, the human remains are Native 
American. 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, Snyder, Spier 1936, and Swanton 1952) indicate that 
the Kikiallus, Swinomish, Lower Skagit, and Upper Skagit 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 also indicates that the Stillaguamish utilized the 
Skagit River delta and Skagit Bay area for hunting, fishing, and 
clamming (Grady 2012:3). Today, descendants of Kikiallus are members of 
the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington (previously listed as 
the Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington); Swinomish Indians of the 
Swinomish Reservation of Washington; and 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 and Central Washington 
University

    Officials of the Burke Museum and Central Washington University 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 11 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the eight objects 
described above 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 the 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 to Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 35010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849, 
email [email protected], or Lourdes Henebry-DeLeon, Department of 
Anthropology, Central Washington University, 400 East University Way, 
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7544, telephone (509) 963-2671, email 
[email protected], by October 30, 2013. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington (previously listed 
as the 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: August 14, 2013.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-23821 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P