[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12897-12898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6512]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Northwest Museum, Whitman 
College, Walla Walla, 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 in the possession of the 
Northwest Museum (formerly Maxey Museum), Whitman College, Walla Walla, 
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 the Whitman 
College and Northwest Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from a home site in Walla Walla, Walla Walla 
County, WA. In 1929, the human remains were donated to the Northwest 
Museum at Whitman College by Mr. Emory Frank (WHIT-X-0008; Old Cat. No. 
540, 5743 and WHIT-XX-0049; Old Cat. No. 5743). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    According to museum records, the human remains were identified as 
Indian, and were found buried in a sitting position. The human remains 
are determined to be Native American based on skeletal morphology, as 
well as on museum records of the provenience.
    The city of Walla Walla is within the ceded lands of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon. The 
ceded land of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation extends over 6.4 million acres in eastern Oregon and 
southeast Washington, and was occupied by the Weyiiletpu. Walla Walla 
is in an area that the Pasxapu band of the Weyiiletpu used for winter 
quarters. The Walla Walla River and its tributaries is where they 
fished for salmon and gathered foods and medicines along the river 
banks and ridges. The Pasxapu summers were spent hunting, fishing, and 
gathering foods and medicines in the adjacent Blue Mountains. 
Consultation evidence from tribal representatives of the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation further supports this 
evidence of occupation. Descendants of the Walla Walla (Waluulapam), 
Umatilla (Imatalamlama), and Cayuse (Weyiiletpu) tribes that are 
enrolled in

[[Page 12898]]

the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon, are 
of the Shahaptian cultural group.
    Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of one individual of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College 
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 Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Brian 
Dott, Director, Northwest Museum, Maxey Hall, Whitman College, 345 
Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509) 527-5776, fax (509) 
527-5026, before April 24, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains to 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Northwest Museum, Whitman College is responsible for notifying 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 10, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-6512 Filed 3-24-09; 8:45 am]
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