[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7276-7277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4320]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Cheney Cowles
Museum, Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Spokane, WA
AGENCY: National Park Service
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of the completion of an
inventory of Native American human remains and associated funerary
objects currently in the possession of the Cheney Cowles Museum,
Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Spokane, WA.
A detailed inventory and assessment has been made by members of the
Cheney Cowles Museum professional staff in consultation with the
Spokane Tribe of Indians.
In 1939-1940 during excavations of sites behind the Grand Coulee
Dam, the human remains and associated funerary objects were collected
from four sites on the north side of the Spokane River. The human
remains from sites 8, 48, and 50 represent three individuals. No known
individuals were identified. A total of 1,409 objects are associated
with these remains including: stone pipe bowls; iron ax heads; bone
(implements, elk teeth); shell (abalone, olivella, dentallia); copper
(beads, buttons, pendants); glass beads; copper beads, discs, and
ornaments; twined bag and basketry fragments; hide fragments; a stone
pestle; and bark matting. A total of 320 objects were excavated from
two burials at Site 51 including copper (button, pendant, beads), an
iron ax head, and shell (dentallia). The condition of the excavation
reports for site 51 has made it impossible to determine whether the
human remains were removed, and no human remains from site 51 have been
located in the collections. Sites 8, 48, 50, and 51 have been
identified to recent pre-contact through the mid-nineteenth century by
the cultural items found with the human remains.
The location of these sites, north of the Spokane River and east of
the Columbia River, is well within the exclusive traditional occupation
area of the Spokane Tribe during the pre-contact era and is now tribal
land within the exterior boundaries of the Spokane Reservation. The
basketry fragments have identical construction as historic and present-
day Spokane basketry techniques. Representatives and elders of the
Spokane Tribe have indicated the manner of the interments is consistent
with Spokane traditional practice. Representatives and elders of the
Spokane Tribe affirms that Spokane burials are known to have existed
along this particular portion of the Spokane River.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Cheney
Cowles Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10 (d)(1), the
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of three
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Cheney Cowles
Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A) and
(B), the 1,409 objects listed 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 Cheney Cowles Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C.
[[Page 7277]]
3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be
reasonably traced between the human remains and funerary objects and
the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
This notice has been sent to the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with the human remains and funerary objects
should contact Mr. Glenn Mason, Director, Cheney Cowles Museum, 2316 W.
First Avenue, Spokane, WA 99204, telephone (509) 456-4931 ext. 104
before March 28, 1996 Repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects may begin after that date if no additional claimants
come forward.
Dated: February 21, 1996
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-4320 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
