[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32183-32184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16020]


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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.

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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 
object in the control of the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State 
Museum (Burke Museum), Seattle, WA. The human remains and associated 
funerary object were removed from south of Kent, King 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 object. 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 
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; 
Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; Sauk-Suiattle 
Indian Tribe of Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Suquamish 
Indian Tribe of the Port Madison Reservation, Washington; and Tulalip 
Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington.
    In 1921, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from south of Kent in King County, WA. The human remains 
were located under a log or root and removed by W.A. Steigleder while 
excavating for a road. The human remains were donated to the Burke 
Museum in 1921 (Burke Accn. <greek-i>1879). No known individual was 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a carved stone club.
    Based on archeological and geographic information, the human 
remains and associated funerary object have been determined to be 
Native American. The stone club is consistent with other Coast Salish 
material culture. The provenience where the human remains and 
associated funerary object were found is within the aboriginal 
territory of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot 
Reservation, Washington. Ancestors of the Muckleshoot traditionally 
occupied the Green River and White River Basin Valleys. Kent is located 
along the Green River area. The Skopamish Band inhabited the upper 
Green River area. The Skopamish and other Native Americans from the 
Green River and White River Basin Valleys were assigned to move to the 
Nisqually Reservation as per the terms of the Medicine Creek Treaty of 
December 26, 1854; however, Governor Isaac Stevens recommended the 
Muckleshoot Reservation be established in 1856. In 1857, the 
Muckleshoot Reservation was formally approved. The Skopamish and other 
Native American groups now represented by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe 
were also signatories to the Point Elliot Treaty of January 22, 1855.
    Officials of the Burke Museum 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

[[Page 32184]]

American ancestry. Officials of the Burke Museum also have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the one object described above 
is 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 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 object and the 
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
object should contact Megon Noble, Burke Museum, University of 
Washington, Box 353010, Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 685-
3849, before August 6, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary object to the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the 
Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Burke Museum is responsible for notifying the Muckleshoot 
Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Puyallup Tribe 
of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe of 
Washington; Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington; Suquamish Indian Tribe of the 
Port Madison Reservation, Washington; and Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip 
Reservation, Washington that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 15, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-16020 Filed 7-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S