[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59173-59174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25040]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-19194; 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 (Burke 
Museum) has completed an inventory of human remains and an associated 
funerary object, 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 
object 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 object 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 object 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Burke Museum at the address in this 
notice by November 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, 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 an 
associated

[[Page 59174]]

funerary object under the control of the Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Seattle, WA. The human remains and associated funerary 
object were removed from near Lilliwaup, Mason 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 object. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Burke 
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Skokomish Indian Tribe 
(previously listed as the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish 
Reservation, Washington), and the Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin 
Island Reservation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1961, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from near Lilliwaup in Mason County, WA. The human remains 
were removed by Jane Durken near the old Eldon Hotel and donated to the 
Burke Museum in 1963 (Burke Accn. #1963-36). No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is an unmodified shell.
    The human remains are consistent with Native American morphology 
and therefore have been determined to be Native American. Lilliwap and 
the surrounding area is within the traditional aboriginal territory of 
the Twana people (Elmendorf 1960, Mooney 1896, Smith 1940, Suttle 
1990). Three subgroups of the Twana are identifiable: The Skokomish, 
the Duhelelips, and the Kolsids (Brown 1986). The Indian Claims 
Commission ruled that all of Hood Canal, WA, was the traditional 
aboriginal territory of the Twana (Skokomish) people. The Twana are 
represented by the modern day Skokomish Indian Tribe Skokomish Indian 
Tribe (previously listed as the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish 
Reservation, Washington). The Skokomish were signatories to the 1855 
Treaty of Point-No-Point.

Determinations Made by the Burke Museum

    Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that:
     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 one object described 
in this notice is 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.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Skokomish Indian Tribe 
(previously listed as the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish 
Reservation, Washington).
     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 object and the Skokomish 
Indian Tribe (previously listed as the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the 
Skokomish 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849 x2, 
email [email protected], by November 2, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary object to the Skokomish Indian 
Tribe (previously listed as the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish 
Reservation, Washington) may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated 
Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Skokomish Indian Tribe (previously 
listed as the Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, 
Washington), and the Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island 
Reservation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 26, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-25040 Filed 9-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P