[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8218-8219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03412]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20127; 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, in consultation 
with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, 
and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the 
human remains and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations. 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 should submit a written 
request to the Burke Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the Burke Museum 
at the address in this notice by March 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849x2, [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 under 
the control of the Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 
The human remains were possibly removed from the San Juan Islands, San 
Juan Island County, WA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 8219]]

responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 43 CFR 
10.11(d). 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 was made by the Burke 
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of Lummi 
Tribe of the Lummi Reservation; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (previously 
listed as the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, 
Washington); Nooksack Indian Tribe; Samish Indian Nation (previously 
listed as the Samish Indian Tribe, Washington); Sauk-Suiattle Indian 
Tribe; Snoqualmie Indian Tribe (previously listed as the Snoqualmie 
Tribe, Washington); Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington 
(previously listed as the Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington); Suquamish 
Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation; Swinomish Indian Tribal 
Community (previously listed as the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation of Washington); Tulalip Tribes of Washington (previously 
listed as the Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington); 
and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, (all hereafter referred to as the ``The 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    On an unknown date prior to 1995, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were possibly removed from San Juan Islands, 
San Juan Island County, Washington. These remains were identified in 
1995 while completing an inventory for NAGPRA compliance. These human 
remains were located in a box of material marked ``Anian Island Burial 
3F.'' The human remains were in a paper-bag marked ``Burial 3''. Also 
written on the bag in the same pencil, but crossed out, is, ``SJ-1, 
Finds, 7/18/46.''. These human remains to do not match any of the 
records for the Anian Island burial. They also do not match ``Burial 
3'' from Arden King's 1946 excavations at 45-SJ-1 and there is no 
mention of burials being found on 7/18/1946 in the field documents. The 
condition of these human remains is consistent with other burials in 
shell middens from this area. Additional information provided during 
consultation indicated this individual was likely buried on the San 
Juan Islands. The Burke Museum is unable to make a cultural affiliation 
due to the lack of contextual and exact location information from which 
the burial was removed. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.

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 are Native American based on osteological evidence and 
museum collecting and accessioning history.
     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(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and any present-day Indian tribe.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of The Tribes. The Treaty of Point Elliot was 
signed on January 22, 1855 by representatives from The Tribes, and 
ceded aboriginal land included the San Juan Islands region.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 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 protected], by March 21, 2016. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: January 15, 2016.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-03412 Filed 2-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P