[Federal Register: November 16, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 220)]
[Notices]               
[Page 70026]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16no10-90]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]

 
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Gifford Pinchot National 
Forest, Vancouver, 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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession and control of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Gifford Pinchot 
National Forest, Vancouver, WA. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Klickitat 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 Pacific 
Northwest Region, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, professional staff 
in consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm 
Springs Reservation of Oregon; and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington.
    In June 1983, human remains representing a minimum of three 
individuals were removed from archeological site 45KL281, Klickitat 
County, WA. The remains were recovered during initial documentation and 
subsurface sampling of the archeological site, prior to acquisition of 
the property by the Federal agency. The items came into possession of 
the Forest Service in 1989, following the land acquisition. The 
location is on National Forest System lands within the Columbia River 
Gorge National Scenic Area. No known individuals were identified. The 
571 associated funerary objects are 5 shell beads, 182 copper 
artifacts, 380 glass beads, 1 pipe in fragments, 1 horse molar and 2 
glass bottle or jar fragments.
    The human remains are highly fragmented due to the effects of 
cremation, and most of the associated funerary objects also show the 
effects of fire. Trade materials among the associated funerary objects 
indicate interment and firing circa A.D. 1825-1850. Funerary objects 
reflect the ornamentation and dress of local Native American groups 
during the early historic period. Cultural geography, oral traditions 
and historic sources indicate probable use of the site area either by 
Way[aacute]m[lstrok][aacute]ma families from the village of 
wanw[aacute]wi (Oregon) or Walawitsislama people from the village of 
w[aacute]lawitis (Washington). The descendants of the 
Way[aacute]m[lstrok][aacute]ma and Walawitsislama are members of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington. Elders 
have suggested that the remains may be associated with a disease 
epidemic, as cremation was not the normal or preferred method of 
treatment for the deceased.
    Officials of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest have determined, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), that the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest also have 
determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), that the 571 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 Gifford Pinchot 
National Forest have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), that 
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 Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Rick McClure, Heritage Program Manager, Gifford 
Pinchot National Forest, 2455 Highway 141, Trout Lake, WA 98650, 
telephone (509) 395-3399, before December 16, 2010. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Confederated 
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington, may proceed after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Gifford Pinchot National Forest is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; and 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington, that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 5, 2010.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-28744 Filed 11-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P