FR Doc E7-1971
[Federal Register: February 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 5737]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe07-125]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Central Washington University,
Department of Anthropology and Museum, Ellensburg, WA, and 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 and associated funerary
objects in the control of the Central Washington University, Department
of Anthropology and Museum, Ellensburg, WA, and Thomas Burke Memorial
Washington State Museum (Burke Museum), University of Washington,
Seattle, WA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from a site upriver from the McNary Dam in Benton 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 objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Burke
Museum and Central Washington University professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands
of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Reservation, Oregon; and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
Reservation of Oregon.
In 1965, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals
were removed from a rock shelter approximately six miles east of the
McNary Dam (possibly site 45BN5) in Benton County, WA, by Ray Dunn and
Fred Hendrix. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Hendrix donated the human remains to the
Burke Museum in 1966 (Burke Accn. 1966-11). A portion of the
human remains were transferred from the Burke Museum to Central
Washington University in 1974. No known individuals were identified.
The 107 associated funerary objects are 102 shell beads, 1 piece of
cordage, and 4 wood fragments.
Early and late ethnographic sources identify the area six miles
east of the McNary Dam area territory of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and
Umatilla tribes (Hale 1841; Stern 1998; Ray 1936). The Cayuse, Walla
Walla, and Umatilla were separate tribes prior to the treaty on June 9,
1855, but were removed to the Umatilla Reservation under the terms of
the Walla Walla Treaty. The three tribes were officially confederated
in 1949.
The area east of McNary Dam was heavily utilized by the Umatilla,
including the spring and summer camp tu'woyepa on the Oregon side of
the Columbia River (Ray 1936), the Umatilla fishing site wanaket (Lane
and Lane 1979), and the small fishing village xululupa on the
Washington side of the Columbia River (Ray 1936). The human remains
evidence extreme dental attrition, a trait that is common for Columbia
plateau populations. The practice of burying individuals with personal
belongings, including shell beads, is consistent with documented
prehistoric and historic practices of the tribes that are members of
the present-day Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation,
Oregon. The area six miles east from the McNary Dam is within the
aboriginal territory of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Reservation, Oregon as determined by the Indian Claims Commission.
The human remains have been determined to be Native American based
on geographic, historical, and osteological evidence, and culturally
affiliated to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation,
Oregon.
Officials of the Burke Museum and Central Washington University
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human
remains described above represent the physical remains of two
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Burke Museum
and Central Washington University also have determined that, pursuant
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 107 objects 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. Lastly, officials of the Burke Museum and Central Washington
University 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 associated
funerary objects and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Reservation, Oregon.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Dr. Peter Lape, Burke Museum, University of
Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-
2282 or Lourdes Henebry-DeLeon, NAGPRA Program Director, Department of
Anthropology and Museum, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
98926-7544, telephone (509) 963-2671, before March 9, 2007.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon 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
the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; and Confederated Tribes of the Warm
Springs Reservation of Oregon that this notice has been published.
Dated: January 18, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-1971 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S
Back to the top
Back to National-NAGPRA