80_FR_39272 80 FR 39142 - Final Decision on Remand Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Duwamish Tribal Organization

80 FR 39142 - Final Decision on Remand Against Federal Acknowledgment of the Duwamish Tribal Organization

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 130 (July 8, 2015)

Page Range39142-39144
FR Document2015-16710

The Department of the Interior (Department) gives notice that the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs (AS-IA) declines to acknowledge that the Duwamish Tribal Organization (DTO), c/o Cecile Maxwell-Hansen, is an Indian tribe within the meaning of Federal law. This notice follows a Final Decision on Remand (FD on Remand) that the petitioner does not satisfy all seven mandatory criteria in the either the 1978 or 1994 regulations, 25 CFR part 83. Therefore, the DTO does not meet the requirements for a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The Department issues the FD on Remand in response to judicial review in Hansen v. Salazar, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40622 (3/ 22/2013).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39142-39144]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16710]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[156A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]


Final Decision on Remand Against Federal Acknowledgment of the 
Duwamish Tribal Organization

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of final decision on remand.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (Department) gives notice that 
the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs (AS-IA) declines to acknowledge 
that the Duwamish Tribal Organization (DTO), c/o Cecile Maxwell-Hansen, 
is an Indian tribe within the meaning of Federal law. This notice 
follows a Final Decision on Remand (FD on Remand) that the petitioner 
does not satisfy all seven mandatory criteria in the either the 1978 or 
1994 regulations, 25 CFR part 83. Therefore, the DTO does not meet the 
requirements for a government-to-government relationship with the 
United States. The Department issues the FD on Remand in response to 
judicial review in Hansen v. Salazar, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40622 (3/
22/2013).

DATES: This decision is final for the Department on publication of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of this FD on Remand should be addressed 
to the Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Attention: 
Office of Federal Acknowledgment, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., MS 34B-
SIB, Washington, DC 20240. The FD on Remand is also available through 
www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/OFA/RecentCases/index.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. R. Lee Fleming, Director, Office 
of Federal Acknowledgment, (202) 513-5650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This FD on Remand determines that the 
petitioner does not satisfy all seven mandatory criteria in the either 
the 1978 or 1994 regulations, 25 CFR part 83. It affirms the 
conclusions of the 1996 Proposed Finding (PF) notice of which was 
published in the Federal Register, 61 FR 33762 (1996), that found the 
DTO did not meet all seven of the mandatory criteria for Federal 
acknowledgment as an Indian tribe under the regulations 25 CFR part 83 
published in 1978.
    This FD on Remand concludes the administrative process during which 
the AS-IA issued a PF against acknowledgment and a Final Determination 
against acknowledgment on September 25, 2001, notice of which was 
published in the Federal Register, 66 FR 49966 (2001). On December 31, 
2001, the DTO, as the ``Duwamish Tribe of Washington,'' filed a request 
for reconsideration with the Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA). 
The IBIA docketed the petitioner's request, dismissed it for lack of 
jurisdiction and referred two issues, not within its purview, to the 
Secretary of the Interior as possible grounds for reconsideration (37 
IBIA 95). The two issues concerned a January 19, 2001 draft decision by 
the Acting AS-IA that proposed to acknowledge the DTO under the 1994 
regulations.
    On May 8, 2002, in response to the IBIA referral, the Secretary 
declined to request that the AS-IA reconsider the FD against 
acknowledgment of the DTO. The FD declining to acknowledge the DTO as 
an Indian tribe became final and effective May 8, 2002.
    On May 7, 2008, the DTO petitioned for judicial review and other 
relief in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of 
Washington. On March 22, 2013, the Court vacated the FD of September 
25, 2001, and remanded the decision to the Department, ordering it to 
``consider the Duwamish petition under the 1994 acknowledgment 
regulations or explain why it declines to do so.'' The court referred 
to the unsigned draft of the former Acting AS-IA and provided that 
``Whatever the significance of that document, it clearly gave decision 
makers in the Department notice that consideration of the Duwamish 
petition under both sets of regulations might be appropriate'' 
(Coughenour 3/22/2013, 18). The Court did not address the merits of the 
decision under the criteria in the FD.
    The United States filed a notice of appeal and following 
settlement, the Ninth Circuit granted the motion to dismiss the appeal 
voluntarily on June 9, 2014. This FD on Remand addresses the Court's 
procedural concerns by reevaluating the evidence in the record under 
the provisions of the 1994 revised regulations. It also evaluates the 
evidence under the 1978 regulations and refers to those regulations to 
explain or clarify how the Department evaluated evidence in the PF and 
FD, now superseded by this FD on Remand. Finally, the FD on Remand 
refers to the Acting AS-IA draft document.
    This FD on Remand is made following a review of the DTO's response 
to the PF, the public comments on the PF, the documents submitted in 
court proceedings, and it incorporates the evidence considered in the 
1996 PF and the 2001 FD. This notice declining to acknowledge the DTO 
is based on a determination that of the seven mandatory criteria for 
Federal acknowledgment as an Indian tribe, the petitioner has met 
criteria 83.7(d), (e), (f), and (g), but has failed to meet criteria 
83.7(a), (b), and (c) under both the 1978 and 1994 regulations.
    Documentary sources describe a historical Duwamish tribe comprising 
Indians living at the confluence of the Black, Cedar, and Duwamish 
Rivers south of Lake Washington as well as along the Green and White 
Rivers, around Lake Washington, and along the eastern shore of Puget 
Sound in the area of Elliott Bay. Federal negotiators combined the 
Duwamish with other allied tribes and bands into confederated ``treaty 
tribes'' to make a treaty in 1855, and continued to deal with these 
treaty tribes as the ``D'Wamish and other allied tribes.'' These treaty 
tribes moved to four reservations and the separate tribes and bands 
eventually consolidated as four reservation tribes that continue today 
as the Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation, Suquamish Indian Tribe of 
the Port Madison Reservation, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and 
Tulalip Tribes of Washington. A few Duwamish tribal members moved to 
the Muckleshoot Reservation after its creation in 1857. The 
petitioner's ancestors, primarily Duwamish Indian women who married 
non-Indian settlers, did not go to the reservations with the treaty 
tribes. Rather, before and after the treaty, they left the tribes as 
individuals and families and, by the 1880s, lived dispersed throughout 
western Washington. There is no evidence that their descendants, who 
are the DTO's ancestors, maintained tribal relations with the 
``D'Wamish and other allied tribes'' on the reservations or that they 
were a part of a community of similarly situated Duwamish descendants.
    The DTO petitioner first came into existence in 1925 when eight men

[[Page 39143]]

announced their ``intention of forming'' an organization. No evidence 
indicates this new organization was a continuation of the historical 
``D'Wamish and other allied tribes'' on the reservations or that it 
evolved as a group from them. Nor does the evidence show that the 1925 
organization continued activities of a previous group of Duwamish 
Indians listed by Charles Satiacum in 1915 in his efforts to identify 
``the true Duwamish'' as part of an intertribal organization's pursuit 
of claims for unallotted Indians in Washington State. Having formed 
only in 1925, the petitioner cannot show any identifications before its 
formation and, therefore, does not meet criterion 83.7(a), requiring 
identifications as ``American Indian,'' or ``aboriginal'' since 
historical times to the present, under the 1978 regulations, and as an 
Indian entity since 1900, under the 1994 regulations. Outside observers 
first identified the DTO in 1939 and Federal officials have identified 
the petitioner intermittently since 1940 as an Indian organization. 
Contemporary Government officials and American settlers, and later 
ethnographers, historians, and the Indian Claims Commission identified 
a historical Duwamish tribe, which existed at the time of first 
sustained contact with non-Indians. External observers also identified 
a Duwamish community at a traditional location near the junction of the 
Black and Cedar Rivers as late as 1900, but DTO's ancestors were not 
part of that community. Multiple sources, including congressional 
appropriations, have identified the ``D'Wamish and other allied 
tribes'' on the reservations, and the subsequently consolidated 
reservation tribes, continuously since the treaty in 1855, but these 
identifications are not of the petitioner. Because the petitioner was 
created only in late 1925 and is not a continuation of any earlier 
Duwamish entity, the various identifications of a Duwamish tribe before 
1925 do not identify the petitioner. The petitioner has not meet 
criterion 83.7(a) at any time before 1939, and, therefore, it does not 
meet it under either the 1978 or 1994 regulations.
    The petitioner does not meet criterion 83.7(b) for community under 
either the 1978 or the 1994 regulations. Under the former, although the 
members descend from a historical Duwamish tribe, the petitioner's 
members and their ancestors have not inhabited a specific area or lived 
in a community distinct from other populations at any time. Under the 
latter regulation, a predominant portion of the petitioner has never 
formed a distinct social or geographical community. The petitioner did 
not present evidence showing a majority of its members undertook joint 
social or cultural activities, married one another, spoke the Duwamish 
language, participated in cooperative economic activities, or undertook 
informal social activities together, the types of evidence described in 
the 1994 regulations that may be used to show a community exists. The 
petitioner described families living in isolated households as typical 
of the petitioner's ancestors, but did not show that these 
geographically dispersed families interacted in social networks 
involving most of the members at any time. Since 1925, other than the 
organization's annual meetings, social activities between members took 
place within their own extended families, not among a broader DTO 
membership. The petitioner's current members do not maintain a 
community that is distinct from the surrounding non-Indian population. 
The group's geographical dispersion is consistent with other evidence 
showing that members do not maintain, and have not maintained, 
significant social contact with each other. Before 1925, the 
petitioner's ancestors, primarily descendants of marriages between 
Duwamish Indians and pioneer settlers, had little or no interaction 
either with the Indians of the historical Duwamish settlements or with 
those Duwamish who moved to reservations. Because the petitioner has 
not maintained a community that is socially distinct from the general 
populations from historical contact to the present it has not met the 
requirements of criterion (b) under either the 1978 or the 1994 
regulations.
    The petitioner does not meet criterion 83.7(c) under the 1978 and 
1994 regulations requiring a petitioner to show political influence or 
other political authority over its members. The DTO formed in late 1925 
and since then it has not exercised political influence or authority 
over its members. It has limited itself, in general, to pursuing 
Federal acknowledgment and claims against the United States for its 
dues-paying members. The petitioner did not submit any evidence to show 
the group's leaders mobilized members to undertake group activities and 
that members were involved in making decisions for the group at any 
time. Because the petitioner formed in 1925 and has not maintained 
tribal political influence or authority over its members, there is 
insufficient evidence in the record that it exercised political 
influence of authority over its members ``throughout history until the 
present'' under the 1978 regulations or ``from historical times until 
the present'' under the 1994 regulations. The DTO does not meet the 
requirements of criterion (c) under the 1978 and 1994 regulations.
    The petitioner has met criterion (d) by providing copies of the 
constitution and by-laws the DTO adopted in 1925 and are still in 
effect today. These governing documents also describe the petitioner's 
membership criteria. The petitioner has satisfied criterion (e), under 
the 1978 and 1994 regulations, because the available evidence 
demonstrates that about 99 percent (386 of 390) of its members on the 
1992 list descend from historical Duwamish Indians. Evidence submitted 
to the court in Hansen v. Salazar relates to criterion 83.7(f). One 
exhibit, ``Combination of 1942 and 1979 Suquamish rolls compared with 
1971 Duwamish Judgment Roll and Lane Report,'' shows DTO Chairwoman 
Cecile Ann (Oliver) Hansen and her brother Charles ``Manny'' Oliver, 
Jr., on both the 1942 and 1979 Suquamish rolls, which also identifies 
their great-grandmother, Jane Garrison, as their ``Duwamish Ancestor.''
    To confirm or refute Muckleshoot's allegation that at least some 
members of DTO, including its leaders, may be enrolled in Federal 
tribes, the Department reviewed BIA censuses of Tulalip, Muckleshoot, 
and Quinault Reservations for Ms. Hansen's ancestors who were 
considered members of federally recognized tribes. Her father 
(Quinault-Cowlitz) and her paternal grandparents were allotted lands on 
Quinault Reservation. Her mother (``Snohomish-Duwamish'') was recorded 
on Tulalip Reservation censuses with her parents and is buried on the 
Tulalip Reservation. Hansen's maternal grandfather (Snohomish) was also 
allotted land on Tulalip; however, his wife, Hansen's maternal 
grandmother, Anna Garrison, was not allotted land. It is through Jane 
Garrison, mother of Anna (nee Garrison) Henry, that Cecile Hansen 
claims descent from the historical Duwamish Indian tribe. Thus, it 
appears that the Oliver siblings were eligible to enroll, or were 
enrolled, with the Suquamish Indian Tribe. Only 11 individuals (less 
than 3 percent of 390 DTO members) descend from Jane Garrison.
    The PF did not find a ``significant percentage'' of the DTO are 
enrolled in federally recognized tribes. There is no evidence that a 
significant percentage of the petitioner's members belong to any 
federally-recognized tribe, or that the petitioner was subject to 
legislation terminating or forbidding a Federal relationship. Thus, the 
petitioner has met criteria (f) and (g), under both the 1978 and 1994 
regulations.

[[Page 39144]]

    The 1994 regulations clarified the 1978 regulations, but did not 
change the standard of proof for weighing evidence to determine whether 
a petitioner has demonstrated the required continuity of tribal 
existence from historical times to the present. As the preamble to the 
1994 regulations states, ``additional language has been added to 
clarify the standard of proof,'' which would continue to be that 
``facts are considered established if the available evidence 
demonstrates a reasonable likelihood of their validity'' (59 FR 9280). 
``[P]etitioners that were not recognized under the previous regulations 
would not be recognized by these revised regulations'' (59 FR 9282).
    The 1994 regulations included a new provision for previously 
recognized tribes at section 83.8. To qualify for evaluation under 
83.8, a group must provide substantial evidence of unambiguous Federal 
acknowledgment, and must provide evidence that it is a continuation of 
a previously acknowledged tribe or evolved from that entity by showing 
it is a group comprised of members who together left the acknowledged 
tribe. The DTO ancestors, however, did not leave the treaty tribe as a 
group and the dispersed ancestors did not form DTO until 1925. 
Therefore, the DTO does not qualify for evaluation under 83.8 of the 
1994 regulations, for previously acknowledged tribes. Since DTO 
ancestors were not part of the D'Wamish and other allied tribes, the 
evidence of government-to-government relations between the reservation 
tribes and the United States cannot be used to demonstrate the DTO 
meets either the 1978 or the 1994 regulations.
    Based on the evaluation of the evidence, the AS-IA concludes that 
the Duwamish Tribal Organization should not be granted Federal 
acknowledgment as an Indian tribe under 25 CFR part 83.
    A report summarizing the evidence, reasoning, and analyses that are 
the basis for the FD on Remand will be provided to the petitioner and 
interested parties, will be available to other parties upon written 
request, and will be available on the Department of the Interior's Web 
site at http://www.doi.gov. Requests for a copy of the summary 
evaluation of the evidence should be addressed to the Federal 
Government as instructed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    This decision is final for the Department on publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: July 2, 2015.
Kevin K. Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-16710 Filed 7-2-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P



                                                39142                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Notices

                                                acd.od.nih.gov, where any additional                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      This FD               reevaluating the evidence in the record
                                                information for the meeting will be posted               on Remand determines that the                         under the provisions of the 1994 revised
                                                when available.                                          petitioner does not satisfy all seven                 regulations. It also evaluates the
                                                  This notice is being published less than 15
                                                                                                         mandatory criteria in the either the 1978             evidence under the 1978 regulations
                                                days prior to the meeting due to the timing
                                                limitations of receiving input from committee            or 1994 regulations, 25 CFR part 83. It               and refers to those regulations to
                                                members prior to presenting the plan to other            affirms the conclusions of the 1996                   explain or clarify how the Department
                                                audiences for comment and meeting a                      Proposed Finding (PF) notice of which                 evaluated evidence in the PF and FD,
                                                legislative reporting deadline.                          was published in the Federal Register,                now superseded by this FD on Remand.
                                                  Dated: July 1, 2015.                                   61 FR 33762 (1996), that found the DTO                Finally, the FD on Remand refers to the
                                                Anna Snouffer,                                           did not meet all seven of the mandatory               Acting AS–IA draft document.
                                                                                                         criteria for Federal acknowledgment as                   This FD on Remand is made following
                                                Deputy Director, Office of Federal Advisory
                                                                                                         an Indian tribe under the regulations 25              a review of the DTO’s response to the
                                                Committee Policy.
                                                                                                         CFR part 83 published in 1978.                        PF, the public comments on the PF, the
                                                [FR Doc. 2015–16703 Filed 7–7–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            This FD on Remand concludes the                    documents submitted in court
                                                BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
                                                                                                         administrative process during which the               proceedings, and it incorporates the
                                                                                                         AS–IA issued a PF against                             evidence considered in the 1996 PF and
                                                                                                         acknowledgment and a Final                            the 2001 FD. This notice declining to
                                                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                               Determination against acknowledgment                  acknowledge the DTO is based on a
                                                                                                         on September 25, 2001, notice of which                determination that of the seven
                                                Bureau of Indian Affairs                                 was published in the Federal Register,                mandatory criteria for Federal
                                                [156A2100DD/AAKC001030/                                  66 FR 49966 (2001). On December 31,                   acknowledgment as an Indian tribe, the
                                                A0A501010.999900 253G]                                   2001, the DTO, as the ‘‘Duwamish Tribe                petitioner has met criteria 83.7(d), (e),
                                                                                                         of Washington,’’ filed a request for                  (f), and (g), but has failed to meet
                                                Final Decision on Remand Against                         reconsideration with the Interior Board               criteria 83.7(a), (b), and (c) under both
                                                Federal Acknowledgment of the                            of Indian Appeals (IBIA). The IBIA                    the 1978 and 1994 regulations.
                                                Duwamish Tribal Organization                             docketed the petitioner’s request,                       Documentary sources describe a
                                                AGENCY:   Bureau of Indian Affairs,                      dismissed it for lack of jurisdiction and             historical Duwamish tribe comprising
                                                Interior.                                                referred two issues, not within its                   Indians living at the confluence of the
                                                ACTION: Notice of final decision on                      purview, to the Secretary of the Interior             Black, Cedar, and Duwamish Rivers
                                                remand.                                                  as possible grounds for reconsideration               south of Lake Washington as well as
                                                                                                         (37 IBIA 95). The two issues concerned                along the Green and White Rivers,
                                                SUMMARY:   The Department of the                         a January 19, 2001 draft decision by the              around Lake Washington, and along the
                                                Interior (Department) gives notice that                  Acting AS–IA that proposed to                         eastern shore of Puget Sound in the area
                                                the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs                   acknowledge the DTO under the 1994                    of Elliott Bay. Federal negotiators
                                                (AS–IA) declines to acknowledge that                     regulations.                                          combined the Duwamish with other
                                                the Duwamish Tribal Organization                            On May 8, 2002, in response to the                 allied tribes and bands into
                                                (DTO), c/o Cecile Maxwell-Hansen, is                     IBIA referral, the Secretary declined to              confederated ‘‘treaty tribes’’ to make a
                                                an Indian tribe within the meaning of                    request that the AS–IA reconsider the                 treaty in 1855, and continued to deal
                                                Federal law. This notice follows a Final                 FD against acknowledgment of the DTO.                 with these treaty tribes as the
                                                Decision on Remand (FD on Remand)                        The FD declining to acknowledge the                   ‘‘D’Wamish and other allied tribes.’’
                                                that the petitioner does not satisfy all                 DTO as an Indian tribe became final and               These treaty tribes moved to four
                                                seven mandatory criteria in the either                   effective May 8, 2002.                                reservations and the separate tribes and
                                                the 1978 or 1994 regulations, 25 CFR                        On May 7, 2008, the DTO petitioned                 bands eventually consolidated as four
                                                part 83. Therefore, the DTO does not                     for judicial review and other relief in               reservation tribes that continue today as
                                                meet the requirements for a government-                  the U.S. District Court for the Western               the Lummi Tribe of the Lummi
                                                to-government relationship with the                      District of Washington. On March 22,                  Reservation, Suquamish Indian Tribe of
                                                United States. The Department issues                     2013, the Court vacated the FD of                     the Port Madison Reservation,
                                                the FD on Remand in response to                          September 25, 2001, and remanded the                  Swinomish Indian Tribal Community,
                                                judicial review in Hansen v. Salazar,                    decision to the Department, ordering it               and Tulalip Tribes of Washington. A
                                                2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40622 (3/22/                       to ‘‘consider the Duwamish petition                   few Duwamish tribal members moved to
                                                2013).                                                   under the 1994 acknowledgment                         the Muckleshoot Reservation after its
                                                                                                         regulations or explain why it declines to             creation in 1857. The petitioner’s
                                                DATES: This decision is final for the
                                                                                                         do so.’’ The court referred to the                    ancestors, primarily Duwamish Indian
                                                Department on publication of this
                                                                                                         unsigned draft of the former Acting AS–               women who married non-Indian
                                                notice.
                                                                                                         IA and provided that ‘‘Whatever the                   settlers, did not go to the reservations
                                                ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of this                   significance of that document, it clearly             with the treaty tribes. Rather, before and
                                                FD on Remand should be addressed to                      gave decision makers in the Department                after the treaty, they left the tribes as
                                                the Office of the Assistant Secretary—                   notice that consideration of the                      individuals and families and, by the
                                                Indian Affairs, Attention: Office of                     Duwamish petition under both sets of                  1880s, lived dispersed throughout
                                                Federal Acknowledgment, 1951                             regulations might be appropriate’’                    western Washington. There is no
                                                Constitution Avenue NW., MS 34B–SIB,                     (Coughenour 3/22/2013, 18). The Court                 evidence that their descendants, who
                                                Washington, DC 20240. The FD on                          did not address the merits of the                     are the DTO’s ancestors, maintained
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                Remand is also available through                         decision under the criteria in the FD.                tribal relations with the ‘‘D’Wamish and
                                                www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS–IA/OFA/                             The United States filed a notice of                other allied tribes’’ on the reservations
                                                RecentCases/index.htm.                                   appeal and following settlement, the                  or that they were a part of a community
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.                     Ninth Circuit granted the motion to                   of similarly situated Duwamish
                                                R. Lee Fleming, Director, Office of                      dismiss the appeal voluntarily on June                descendants.
                                                Federal Acknowledgment, (202) 513–                       9, 2014. This FD on Remand addresses                     The DTO petitioner first came into
                                                5650.                                                    the Court’s procedural concerns by                    existence in 1925 when eight men


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Notices                                            39143

                                                announced their ‘‘intention of forming’’                 community. The petitioner did not                     historical times until the present’’ under
                                                an organization. No evidence indicates                   present evidence showing a majority of                the 1994 regulations. The DTO does not
                                                this new organization was a                              its members undertook joint social or                 meet the requirements of criterion (c)
                                                continuation of the historical                           cultural activities, married one another,             under the 1978 and 1994 regulations.
                                                ‘‘D’Wamish and other allied tribes’’ on                  spoke the Duwamish language,                             The petitioner has met criterion (d) by
                                                the reservations or that it evolved as a                 participated in cooperative economic                  providing copies of the constitution and
                                                group from them. Nor does the evidence                   activities, or undertook informal social              by-laws the DTO adopted in 1925 and
                                                show that the 1925 organization                          activities together, the types of evidence            are still in effect today. These governing
                                                continued activities of a previous group                 described in the 1994 regulations that                documents also describe the petitioner’s
                                                of Duwamish Indians listed by Charles                    may be used to show a community                       membership criteria. The petitioner has
                                                Satiacum in 1915 in his efforts to                       exists. The petitioner described families             satisfied criterion (e), under the 1978
                                                identify ‘‘the true Duwamish’’ as part of                living in isolated households as typical              and 1994 regulations, because the
                                                an intertribal organization’s pursuit of                 of the petitioner’s ancestors, but did not            available evidence demonstrates that
                                                claims for unallotted Indians in                         show that these geographically                        about 99 percent (386 of 390) of its
                                                Washington State. Having formed only                     dispersed families interacted in social               members on the 1992 list descend from
                                                in 1925, the petitioner cannot show any                  networks involving most of the                        historical Duwamish Indians. Evidence
                                                identifications before its formation and,                members at any time. Since 1925, other                submitted to the court in Hansen v.
                                                therefore, does not meet criterion                       than the organization’s annual meetings,              Salazar relates to criterion 83.7(f). One
                                                83.7(a), requiring identifications as                    social activities between members took                exhibit, ‘‘Combination of 1942 and 1979
                                                ‘‘American Indian,’’ or ‘‘aboriginal’’                   place within their own extended                       Suquamish rolls compared with 1971
                                                since historical times to the present,                   families, not among a broader DTO                     Duwamish Judgment Roll and Lane
                                                under the 1978 regulations, and as an                    membership. The petitioner’s current                  Report,’’ shows DTO Chairwoman
                                                Indian entity since 1900, under the 1994                 members do not maintain a community                   Cecile Ann (Oliver) Hansen and her
                                                regulations. Outside observers first                     that is distinct from the surrounding                 brother Charles ‘‘Manny’’ Oliver, Jr., on
                                                identified the DTO in 1939 and Federal                   non-Indian population. The group’s                    both the 1942 and 1979 Suquamish
                                                officials have identified the petitioner                 geographical dispersion is consistent                 rolls, which also identifies their great-
                                                intermittently since 1940 as an Indian                   with other evidence showing that                      grandmother, Jane Garrison, as their
                                                organization. Contemporary                               members do not maintain, and have not                 ‘‘Duwamish Ancestor.’’
                                                Government officials and American                        maintained, significant social contact                   To confirm or refute Muckleshoot’s
                                                settlers, and later ethnographers,                       with each other. Before 1925, the                     allegation that at least some members of
                                                                                                         petitioner’s ancestors, primarily                     DTO, including its leaders, may be
                                                historians, and the Indian Claims
                                                                                                                                                               enrolled in Federal tribes, the
                                                Commission identified a historical                       descendants of marriages between
                                                                                                                                                               Department reviewed BIA censuses of
                                                Duwamish tribe, which existed at the                     Duwamish Indians and pioneer settlers,
                                                                                                                                                               Tulalip, Muckleshoot, and Quinault
                                                time of first sustained contact with non-                had little or no interaction either with
                                                                                                                                                               Reservations for Ms. Hansen’s ancestors
                                                Indians. External observers also                         the Indians of the historical Duwamish
                                                                                                                                                               who were considered members of
                                                identified a Duwamish community at a                     settlements or with those Duwamish
                                                                                                                                                               federally recognized tribes. Her father
                                                traditional location near the junction of                who moved to reservations. Because the
                                                                                                                                                               (Quinault-Cowlitz) and her paternal
                                                the Black and Cedar Rivers as late as                    petitioner has not maintained a
                                                                                                                                                               grandparents were allotted lands on
                                                1900, but DTO’s ancestors were not part                  community that is socially distinct from
                                                                                                                                                               Quinault Reservation. Her mother
                                                of that community. Multiple sources,                     the general populations from historical
                                                                                                                                                               (‘‘Snohomish-Duwamish’’) was recorded
                                                including congressional appropriations,                  contact to the present it has not met the             on Tulalip Reservation censuses with
                                                have identified the ‘‘D’Wamish and                       requirements of criterion (b) under                   her parents and is buried on the Tulalip
                                                other allied tribes’’ on the reservations,               either the 1978 or the 1994 regulations.              Reservation. Hansen’s maternal
                                                and the subsequently consolidated                           The petitioner does not meet criterion             grandfather (Snohomish) was also
                                                reservation tribes, continuously since                   83.7(c) under the 1978 and 1994                       allotted land on Tulalip; however, his
                                                the treaty in 1855, but these                            regulations requiring a petitioner to                 wife, Hansen’s maternal grandmother,
                                                identifications are not of the petitioner.               show political influence or other                     Anna Garrison, was not allotted land. It
                                                Because the petitioner was created only                  political authority over its members.                 is through Jane Garrison, mother of
                                                in late 1925 and is not a continuation of                The DTO formed in late 1925 and since                 Anna (nee Garrison) Henry, that Cecile
                                                any earlier Duwamish entity, the                         then it has not exercised political                   Hansen claims descent from the
                                                various identifications of a Duwamish                    influence or authority over its members.              historical Duwamish Indian tribe. Thus,
                                                tribe before 1925 do not identify the                    It has limited itself, in general, to                 it appears that the Oliver siblings were
                                                petitioner. The petitioner has not meet                  pursuing Federal acknowledgment and                   eligible to enroll, or were enrolled, with
                                                criterion 83.7(a) at any time before 1939,               claims against the United States for its              the Suquamish Indian Tribe. Only 11
                                                and, therefore, it does not meet it under                dues-paying members. The petitioner                   individuals (less than 3 percent of 390
                                                either the 1978 or 1994 regulations.                     did not submit any evidence to show                   DTO members) descend from Jane
                                                   The petitioner does not meet criterion                the group’s leaders mobilized members                 Garrison.
                                                83.7(b) for community under either the                   to undertake group activities and that                   The PF did not find a ‘‘significant
                                                1978 or the 1994 regulations. Under the                  members were involved in making                       percentage’’ of the DTO are enrolled in
                                                former, although the members descend                     decisions for the group at any time.                  federally recognized tribes. There is no
                                                from a historical Duwamish tribe, the                    Because the petitioner formed in 1925                 evidence that a significant percentage of
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                                                petitioner’s members and their ancestors                 and has not maintained tribal political               the petitioner’s members belong to any
                                                have not inhabited a specific area or                    influence or authority over its members,              federally-recognized tribe, or that the
                                                lived in a community distinct from                       there is insufficient evidence in the                 petitioner was subject to legislation
                                                other populations at any time. Under                     record that it exercised political                    terminating or forbidding a Federal
                                                the latter regulation, a predominant                     influence of authority over its members               relationship. Thus, the petitioner has
                                                portion of the petitioner has never                      ‘‘throughout history until the present’’              met criteria (f) and (g), under both the
                                                formed a distinct social or geographical                 under the 1978 regulations or ‘‘from                  1978 and 1994 regulations.


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                                                39144                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 130 / Wednesday, July 8, 2015 / Notices

                                                   The 1994 regulations clarified the                      Dated: July 2, 2015.                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      The
                                                1978 regulations, but did not change the                 Kevin K. Washburn,                                    Department publishes this notice in the
                                                standard of proof for weighing evidence                  Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.                   exercise of authority the Secretary of the
                                                to determine whether a petitioner has                    [FR Doc. 2015–16710 Filed 7–2–15; 4:15 pm]            Interior delegated to the AS–IA by 209
                                                demonstrated the required continuity of                  BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
                                                                                                                                                               DM 8. The Department issued a PF to
                                                tribal existence from historical times to                                                                      acknowledge Petitioner #323 on January
                                                the present. As the preamble to the 1994                                                                       16, 2014, and published notice of that
                                                regulations states, ‘‘additional language                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            preliminary decision in the Federal
                                                has been added to clarify the standard                                                                         Register on January 23, 2014, pursuant
                                                                                                         Bureau of Indian Affairs                              to part 83 of title 25 of the Code of
                                                of proof,’’ which would continue to be
                                                                                                                                                               Federal Regulations (25 CFR part 83) (79
                                                that ‘‘facts are considered established if               [156A2100DD/AAKC001030/
                                                                                                         A0A501010.999900 253G]                                FR 3860). This FD affirms the PF and
                                                the available evidence demonstrates a                                                                          concludes that the Pamunkey Indian
                                                reasonable likelihood of their validity’’                                                                      Tribe, c/o Mr. Kevin M. Brown, 331
                                                                                                         Final Determination for Federal
                                                (59 FR 9280). ‘‘[P]etitioners that were                                                                        Pocket Road, King William, VA 23086,
                                                                                                         Acknowledgment of the Pamunkey
                                                not recognized under the previous                                                                              fully satisfies the seven mandatory
                                                                                                         Indian Tribe
                                                regulations would not be recognized by                                                                         criteria for acknowledgment as an
                                                these revised regulations’’ (59 FR 9282).                AGENCY:   Bureau of Indian Affairs,                   Indian tribe. Since the promulgation of
                                                   The 1994 regulations included a new                   Interior.                                             the Department’s regulations in 1978,
                                                provision for previously recognized                      ACTION: Notice of final determination.                the Department has reviewed over 50
                                                tribes at section 83.8. To qualify for                                                                         complete petitions for Federal
                                                                                                         SUMMARY:   The Department of the                      acknowledgment. OFA experts view this
                                                evaluation under 83.8, a group must
                                                                                                         Interior (Department) gives notice the                petition and the voluminous and clear
                                                provide substantial evidence of
                                                                                                         Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs                    documentation as truly extraordinary.
                                                unambiguous Federal acknowledgment,                      (AS–IA) has determined to acknowledge
                                                and must provide evidence that it is a                                                                         Based on the facts and evidence,
                                                                                                         the Pamunkey Indian Tribe (Petitioner                 Petitioner #323 easily satisfies the seven
                                                continuation of a previously                             #323) as an Indian tribe within the                   mandatory criteria.
                                                acknowledged tribe or evolved from that                  meaning of Federal law. This notice is                  Publication of the PF in the Federal
                                                entity by showing it is a group                          based on a determination that affirms                 Register initiated the 180-day comment
                                                comprised of members who together left                   the reasoning, analysis, and conclusions              period provided in the regulations at
                                                the acknowledged tribe. The DTO                          in the Proposed Finding (PF), as                      § 83.10(i). The comment period closed
                                                ancestors, however, did not leave the                    modified by additional evidence. The                  July 22, 2014. Neither the Pamunkey
                                                treaty tribe as a group and the dispersed                petitioner has submitted more than                    petitioner nor other parties asked for an
                                                ancestors did not form DTO until 1925.                   sufficient evidence to satisfy each of the            on-the-record technical assistance
                                                Therefore, the DTO does not qualify for                  seven mandatory criteria for                          meeting under § 83.10(j)(2). The
                                                evaluation under 83.8 of the 1994                        acknowledgment set forth in the                       petitioner submitted comments certified
                                                regulations, for previously                              regulations under 25 CFR 83.7, and,                   by its governing body, and a third party
                                                acknowledged tribes. Since DTO                           therefore, meets the requirements for a               submitted comment on the PF during
                                                ancestors were not part of the D’Wamish                  government-to-government relationship                 the comment period. The Department
                                                and other allied tribes, the evidence of                 with the United States. Based on the                  also received 10 letters from trade
                                                government-to-government relations                       limited nature and extent of comments                 associations and businesses that raised
                                                between the reservation tribes and the                   and consistent with prior practices, the              concerns over the potential impact
                                                United States cannot be used to                          Department did not produce a separate                 acknowledgment of the petitioner might
                                                demonstrate the DTO meets either the                     detailed report or other summary under                have on tax revenues to the
                                                                                                         the criteria pertaining to this final                 Commonwealth and on their own
                                                1978 or the 1994 regulations.
                                                                                                         determination (FD). The proposed                      economic interests should the petitioner
                                                   Based on the evaluation of the                        finding, as supplemented by this notice,              venture into commercial enterprises.
                                                evidence, the AS–IA concludes that the                   is affirmed and constitutes the FD.                   Three of these letters were received after
                                                Duwamish Tribal Organization should                      DATES: This determination is final and                the close of the comment period. Not all
                                                not be granted Federal acknowledgment                    will become effective on October 6,                   of the correspondence was copied to the
                                                as an Indian tribe under 25 CFR part 83.                 2015, pursuant to 25 CFR 83.10(l)(4),                 petitioner as is required for comment
                                                   A report summarizing the evidence,                    unless the petitioner or an interested                under § 83.10(i). The correspondence
                                                reasoning, and analyses that are the                     party files a request for reconsideration             did not address the evidence or analysis
                                                                                                         under § 83.11.                                        in the PF, is not substantive comment
                                                basis for the FD on Remand will be
                                                                                                                                                               on whether the petitioner meets the
                                                provided to the petitioner and interested                ADDRESSES: Requests for a copy of the
                                                                                                                                                               mandatory criteria, and is therefore not
                                                parties, will be available to other parties              Federal Register notice should be                     further addressed in this FD. Further, as
                                                upon written request, and will be                        addressed to the Office of the Assistant              provided under § 83.10(l)(1), untimely
                                                available on the Department of the                       Secretary—Indian Affairs, Attention:                  comment cannot be considered. The
                                                Interior’s Web site at http://                           Office of Federal Acknowledgment,                     petitioner submitted its response to the
                                                www.doi.gov. Requests for a copy of the                  1951 Constitution Avenue NW., MS:                     third-party comment and some of the
                                                summary evaluation of the evidence                       34B–SIB, Washington, DC 20240. The
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                               correspondence before the close of the
                                                should be addressed to the Federal                       Federal Register notice is also available             60-day response period on September
                                                Government as instructed in the                          through www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-                      22, 2014.
                                                ADDRESSES section of this notice.                        IA/OFA/RecentCases/index.htm.                           As part of the consultation process
                                                   This decision is final for the                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R.                   provided by the regulations at
                                                Department on publication of this notice                 Lee Fleming, Director, Office of Federal              § 83.10(k)(1), the OFA wrote a letter to
                                                in the Federal Register.                                 Acknowledgment (OFA), (202) 513–                      the petitioner and interested parties on
                                                                                                         7650.                                                 October 16, 2014, followed by contact


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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:12:29
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:12:29
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of final decision on remand.
DatesThis decision is final for the Department on publication of this notice.
ContactMr. R. Lee Fleming, Director, Office of Federal Acknowledgment, (202) 513-5650.
FR Citation80 FR 39142 

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