[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55011-55012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21900]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16404; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Thomas Burke 
Memorial Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

[[Page 55012]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke 
Museum), University of Washington, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the 
cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of 
any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written 
request to the Burke Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items 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 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Burke Museum at the address 
in this notice by October 15, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849 x2, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the Burke Museum, Seattle, WA that meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Between 1929 and 1930, seven copper rod bracelets were brought to 
the Burke Museum by an unknown donor. The Burke Museum ledger lists 
these bracelets as identified by Leslie Spier, a professor of 
Anthropology at the University of Washington, as from ``Possibly 
Eastern Washington.'' The box in which these bracelets were stored was 
labeled as being from ``SE. Washington Plateau Area.'' The bracelets 
were not accessioned by the Burke Museum until 1993, under accession 
number 1993-1.
    These bracelets and material type are typical of the cultural items 
found in burials in Eastern Washington and is consistent with Native 
American Plateau customs of burying the dead with personal adornment 
items. During consultation, information was provided that indicates 
that the aboriginal ancestors occupying the area were highly mobile and 
traveled the landscape for gathering resources, as well as trade, and 
are all part of the more broadly defined Plateau cultural community. 
This Plateau cultural community is represented by the Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation (previously listed as the Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon), the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe (previously listed as the 
Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho), and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids, a 
non-Federally recognized Indian group.

Determinations Made by the Burke Museum

    Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 7 cultural items 
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a burial site of a Native American 
individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of 
the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously 
listed as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon), 
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Nez 
Perce Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho), and 
the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids, a non-Federally recognized 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 claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849 x2, 
email [email protected], by October 15, 2014. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of 
the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (previously 
listed as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon), 
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Nez 
Perce Tribe (previously listed as the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho), and 
the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids, a non-Federally recognized Indian 
group, may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation (previously listed as the Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon), the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon, the Nez Perce Tribe (previously listed as the 
Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho), and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids, a 
non-Federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 1, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-21900 Filed 9-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P