[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16038-16039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06273]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15079; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and the Thomas Burke Memorial 
Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 
and the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, University of 
Washington (Burke Museum), 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 
Bureau of Indian Affairs. 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs at the address 
in this notice by April 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Anna Pardo, Museum Program Manager/NAGPRA Coordinator, U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, 12220 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
Room 6084, Reston, VA 20191, telephone (703) 390-6343.

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 U.S. Department of 
the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and in the physical custody of 
the Burke Museum. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed from Okanogan 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and the Burke Museum professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1950, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site 45-OK-10 in the Chief Joseph Reservoir, Okanogan 
County, WA. The site (45-OK-10) is located within the current 
boundaries of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were collected on a 
University of Washington Field Party possibly under the direction of 
Douglas Osborne, as a part of archeological investigations in Okanogan 
County in the Chief Joseph Reservoir. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were received by the Burke Museum in 1950 (Burke Accn. 
1966-92). No known individuals were identified. The 10 
associated funerary objects include 1 lot of nails, 3 lots of 
unmodified wood and soil, 1 metal picture frame, 1 metal object 
(possible pillbox), 1 ceramic knob, 1 spoon, 1 composite artifact bag 
containing metal and fabric fragments, and 1 bag of fabric.

[[Page 16039]]

    Geographic, historic, and anthropological evidence indicates that 
the human remains are Native American. The site (45-OK-10) is located 
within the current boundaries of the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation. This area was historically and prehistorically 
occupied by the Interior Salishan group, the Nespelem. The artifacts 
from the site include both pre- and post-contact materials. A trade 
button dating between 1830-1845 was found at the site and indicates 
occupation during the historic time period. The site is located between 
two major Hudson's Bay Company Forts, Fort Okanogan, which was in 
operation between 1812 to 1860, and Fort Colville, which was in 
operation between 1825-1870. There were few Euro-American settlers in 
the area until after 1900 (Osborne, Crabtree, and Brian 1952). Sites in 
the surrounding area (45OK159 and 45OK7) include historic funerary 
objects associated with Native American burials (Cook 2013). The 
Nespelem traditionally occupied the area surrounding the Nespelem River 
and the Columbia River to the confluence with the Okanogan River (Ruby 
and Brown 2010). The Nespelem speak Interior Salish. Today, the 
Nespelem are represented by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and the Burke Museum

    Officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, and the Burke Museum have determined that:
     Based on historic, geographic, and anthropological 
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 ten 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 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

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 Anna Pardo, Museum Program Manager/NAGPRA 
Coordinator, U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, 12220 
Sunrise Valley Drive, Room 6084, Reston, VA 20191, telephone (703) 390-
6343, by April 23, 2014. After that date, if no additional requestors 
have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Confederate Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation may proceed.
    The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, is 
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 19, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-06273 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
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