[Federal Register: September 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 177)]
[Notices]
[Page 52392-52393]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13se07-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Thomas Burke
Memorial Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 in the control the Thomas Burke Memorial
Washington State Museum (Burke Museum), University of Washington,
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 cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
In 1920-1921, unassociated funerary objects were removed from two
graves at ``Hall Site 8''in the vicinity of 45-GR-134, Grant
County, WA, during a museum expedition by F. S. Hall, Earl O. Roberts,
and M. Mohr. The cultural items were accessioned by the museum in 1920
(Burke Accn. 1860). The 31 unassociated funerary objects are 1
lot of beads (possibly made of juniper berries), 4 metal fragments, 22
bone tools, 2 bird bones, 1 lot of shell beads, and 1 lot of olivella
shell beads.
In 1920 and 1921, unassociated funerary objects were removed from
an unknown location in Grant County, WA, during a museum expedition by
F. S. Hall, Earl O. Roberts, and M. Mohr. The cultural items were
accessioned by the museum in 1920 (Burke Accn. 1860). The 28
unassociated funerary objects are 1 lot of metal fragments, 2 dentalium
shells, 11 dentalium shell beads (some strung on fiber), 3 dentalium
shell fragments, 2 lots of red ochre, 8 small rocks, and 1 seed.
The burial pattern and unassociated funerary objects are consistent
with Native American plateau customs. Museum documentation indicates
that the cultural items were found in connection with human remains.
The cultural items are consistent with cultural items typically found
in context with burials in eastern Washington.
Early and late published ethnographic documentation indicates that
the sites
[[Page 52393]]
described above are the aboriginal territory of the Moses-Columbia or
Sinkiuse, and Yakima (Daugherty 1973, Miller 1998, Mooney 1896, Ray
1936, Spier 1936). Descendents of the Moses-Columbia, Sinkiuse, and
Yakima are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, Washington. Furthermore, information provided by the two tribes
during consultation indicates that the aboriginal ancestors occupying
this area were highly mobile and traveled the landscape for gathering
resources as well as trade, and are part of the and are part of the
more broadly defined Plateau communities. Descendents of these Plateau
communities are now widely dispersed and enrolled in the Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a
non-federally recognized Indian group.
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of
Idaho; and Wanapum Band, non-federally recognized Indian group are
claiming jointly all cultural items from the Columbia River area in
eastern Washington and Oregon.
Officials of the Burke Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 59 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 specific burial site of a Native American
individual. 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 unassociated
funerary objects and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington, Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho, Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon, and Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington. Furthermore, officials of the Burke
Museum have determined that there is a cultural relationship between
the unassociated funerary objects 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 unassociated funerary objects should
contact Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Box
353010, Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-2282, before
October 15, 2007. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to
the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; and Nez Perce Tribe
of Idaho for themselves and on behalf of 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 and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a
non-federally recognized Indian group that this notice has been
published.
Dated: August 28, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-18102 Filed 9-12-07; 8:45 am]
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