[Federal Register: February 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 5744]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe07-132]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Thomas Burke Memorial Washington
State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 in the possession of the
Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke Museum),
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The human remains were removed
from Walla Walla 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. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Burke Museum
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of
Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
In 1910, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from an island at Burbank on the Columbia River below
Pasco, Walla Walla County, WA, by Mr. Herbert J. Mohr. In 1966, the
human remains were received from Mr. Mohr and accessioned by the Burke
Museum (Burke Accn. 1966-24). No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The human remains have been identified as Native American based on
osteological analysis of the cranium, as well as geographic
information. The specific burial context of this individual is unknown,
however, the human remains were found on an island on the Columbia
River, which is consistent with ethnographic burial practices
documented among the Palouse, Walla Walla, Wanapum, and Yakama.
Burbank is on the southeast bank of the confluence of the Snake and
Columbia Rivers in Walla Walla County, WA. This area is located within
the overlapping aboriginal territory of the Nez Perce, Palouse, Walla
Walla, Wanapum, and Yakama. According to Indian Land Areas Judicially
Established by the Indian Court of Claims in 1978 (Index 96),
as well as early and late ethnographic documentation, this area is
within the aboriginal territory of the Walla Walla. Furthermore, early
ethnographic evidence indicates that the Palouse, Wanapum, and Yakama
also occupied this area. Descendants of the Palouse, Walla Walla,
Wanapum, and Yakama are members of the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.
Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains listed above represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
Officials of the Burke Museum also have determined that, 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
the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; and Nez Perce Tribe
of Idaho. Furthermore, officials of the Burke Museum have determined
there is a cultural relationship between the human remains and the
Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr.
Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box 353010,
Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-2282, before March 9, 2007.
Repatriation of the human remains to the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Reservation, Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Confederated Tribes
and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington on behalf of themselves and
the Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group, may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated
Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of
the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band,
a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has been
published.
Dated: January 10, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-1967 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S