81 FR 36950 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 110 (June 8, 2016)

The Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (LACMNH) has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36950-36951]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13594]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21090: PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Los Angeles County Museum of 
Natural History, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (LACMNH) has 
completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. If 
no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the Los 
Angeles County Museum of Natural History at the address in this notice 
by July 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dawn McDivitt, Chief Deputy Director, Los Angeles County 
Museum of Natural History, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 
90007, telephone (213) 763-3306, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C.

[[Page 36951]]

3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains under the 
control of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los 
Angeles, CA. The human remains were removed from near the former town 
of Ainsworth, in Franklin 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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Los 
Angeles County Museum of Natural History professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands 
of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation 
(previously listed as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Reservation, Oregon); Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe (previously listed as the Nez 
Perce Tribe of Idaho); and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.

History and Description of the Remains

    In October 1905, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual (Natural History Museum Number A.4262.37-1) were removed 
from the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers near the former 
town of Ainsworth, in Franklin County, WA. The burial was found 30 feet 
from the Columbia River shoreline during the course of excavation for a 
temporary wharf at the mouth of the Snake River. According to accession 
records at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, the burial 
was reportedly found six feet below the surface. The skull and mandible 
of a young person of indeterminate sex between the ages of 20 to 25 
years were reportedly collected. The remains were stained green by 
copper salts. The left frontal bone showed an injury which had healed 
prior to the death of the individual. The remains were gifted to the 
LACNMH on 28 August 1937, by Leon G. Fell of Bakersfield, California, 
under accession number A.4262.37-1. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Today, the collection consists of a single mandible with green 
staining; the cranium is absent. The tribes with which the Museum 
consulted have noted that such green staining is typical of other human 
remains that have been culturally affiliated with the Plateau Culture 
from along the Snake and Columbia Rivers.
    Prehistorically, the Ainsworth, Washington area was occupied 
seasonally by people of the Plateau Culture for at least 5,000 years. 
Ethnographers agree that the Plateau Culture people were Sahaptin 
speakers of the Palus, Wal[uacute]ulapam (Walla Walla), 
Imatalaml[aacute]ma (Umatilla), and Wanapam/Wanapum.
    On their historic journey to the Pacific Ocean, Lewis and Clark 
noted being visited by Sahaptin speaking people on October 16, 1805, 
while at the mouth of the Snake River, which they called the Kimooenim 
or Lewis's River. The captains met two groups of Indians at their camp 
at the mouth of the Snake River, the Chimnapams and Sokulks, or what is 
today known as the Yakamas and Wanapums respectively. The Yakamas lived 
in villages along both sides of the Columbia River in the vicinity of 
present-day Pasco, Washington, north of the Snake River. The Wanapum 
lived further up the Columbia on the west bank, north of present-day 
Richland, Washington. Many Wallula and some Umatilla people lived north 
and south of the Snake River, too, as the river area was important as a 
valuable fishing and trading location.
    Descendants of these communities are present-day members of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez 
Perce Tribe, Idaho; and the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.

Determinations Made by the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 Colville 
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and the Wanapum Band of 
Priest Rapids, a non-federally recognized Indian group.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to Dawn McDivitt, 
Chief Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, 
900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, telephone (213) 763-
3306, email [email protected], by July 8, 2016. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 
Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and the Wanapum Band, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group (if joined to one or more of the above Indian 
tribes) may proceed.
    The Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 
Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and the Wanapum Band, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 16, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-13594 Filed 6-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P