[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4247-4248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01722]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024522; 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 (Burke

[[Page 4248]]

Museum) and Central Washington University (CWU) have completed an 
inventory of human remains and an associated funerary object, 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 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 this associated funerary object should 
submit a written request to the Burke Museum or CWU. 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 this associated 
funerary object 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 March 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 
353010, Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206) 685-3849 x2, 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].

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 funerary object under the control of the Burke Museum, 
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, and Central Washington 
University, Ellensburg, WA. The human remains and associated funerary 
object were removed from Birch Bay, Whatcom 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 Burke Museum 
and Central Washington University professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation and 
the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1933, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from Birch Bay in Whatcom County, WA. The human remains 
and an associated funerary object were removed from a ``shell heap'' by 
David Eastman, and were donated to the Burke Museum in 1933 (Burke 
Accn. #2658). In 1974, the Burke Museum transferred the human remains 
to Central Washington University (CWU ID #BO). No known individuals 
were identified. The one associated funerary object is a bone wedge, 
and it is still in the possession of the Burke Museum.
    Birch Bay, located near the Canadian border, has several large 
documented archeological shell midden sites. The bone wedge funerary 
object is consistent with burial practices in this area, as bone and 
antler wedges have been found in association with burials from other 
sites. The human remains have been determined to be Native American 
based on osteological and archeological evidence.
    Information provided during consultations shows Birch Bay to be an 
important area within the traditional aboriginal territory of the Lummi 
Tribe. Historical and anthropological sources state that Birch Bay was 
inhabited by the Semiahmoo, also referred to as the Birch Bay Indians 
(Amoss, 1978; Ruby et al, 1986; Spier, 1936; Suttles, 1951 & 1990; 
Swanton, 1952). The Semiahmoo people relocated to the Lummi Reservation 
and across the border into Canada (Ruby et al, 1986; Suttles, 1951). 
There is a clear cultural affiliation between these human remains and 
the Semiahmoo people. Today the Semiahmoo are represented by the Lummi 
Tribe of the Lummi Reservation. Other information provided during 
consultation indicates that Birch Bay is also of importance to the 
Nooksack people, who have a cultural connection to the bay and utilized 
it for resource procurement.

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 two individuals 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.
     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 Lummi 
Tribe of the Lummi 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 this 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], 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 March 1, 2018. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary object to the Lummi Tribe of the 
Lummi Reservation may proceed.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Lummi Tribe of 
the Lummi Reservation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: October 23, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

    Editorial Note:  This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Regiater on January 25, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-01722 Filed 1-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P