[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16502-16504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7252]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Northwest Museum
Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
[[Page 16503]]
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. 3005, of the intent
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Northwest Museum
(also known as Maxey Museum), Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, that
meets the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25
U.S.C. 3001.
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 cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
On February 15, 1907, cultural items from the collection of
Reverend Myron Eells were donated to the Northwest Museum by his widow,
Sarah Eells. Rev. Eells lived and collected in the Umatilla-Hermiston
area. The cultural items in the Myron Eells Collection are catalogued
as being from ``Umatilla'' or ``Umatilla Landing,'' which is believed
to be Umatilla, OR. This area was the main village site of the
Imatalaml[aacute]ma (Umatilla Tribe), one of the member tribes of the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Some of the
objects were previously in the possession of J.H. Kunzie, a known
collector of funerary objects from Umatilla burial areas at the
confluence of the Umatilla and Columbia Rivers. This area has a large
cemetery that had been looted for many years and several major
excavations were done prior to the construction of the McNary and John
Day Dams on the Columbia River. Therefore, based on provenience,
collector history, and the nature of the objects, the museum reasonably
believes the objects are unassociated funerary objects. The 10
unassociated funerary objects are 1 digging stick handle (Whit-E-0252);
1 lot of stone beads (Whit-E-0390); 1 lot of stone and tooth beads
(Whit-E-0396); 1 charcoal point (Whit-E-0511); 3 projectile points
(Whit-E-0631,Whit-E-0633, Whit-E-0638); 1 stone pipe (Whit-O-0016); and
2 Umatilla arrowheads (WHIT-E-0531).
On an unknown date, cultural items were removed from the Columbia
River near the mouth of the Umatilla River. They were donated to the
Northwest Museum by William Worthington in 1910. Based on provenience,
similarity to other funerary objects, and tribal consultation evidence,
the museum reasonably believes the cultural items are unassociated
funerary objects. The seven unassociated funerary objects are stone
scrapers (WHIT-O-0124 through Whit-O-0128), and grooved stones (Whit-
0179 and Whit-O-0185).
In 1931, the Northwest Museum purchased two cultural items that
were removed at the Umatilla gravel pit by Lee Hopkins. Through
consultation evidence with the tribe, it is known that human remains
have been previously found in this gravel pit. There are no human
remains from this site in the possession of the museum. Therefore, the
museum reasonably believes that the cultural items are unassociated
funerary objects. The two unassociated funerary objects are a stone
pestle (Whit-O-0135) and a stone mortar (Whit-O-0196).
Between 1925 and 1930, cultural items were removed from or near the
village site of Wallula, WA, by various donors. This site was the main
village site of the Waluulapam (Walla Walla Tribe), a member tribe of
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. It is a
heavily-excavated burial area, and is located at the mouth of the Walla
Walla River and along the Columbia River. Therefore, based on
provenience, similarity to other funerary objects, and tribal
consultation evidence, the museum reasonably believes the cultural
items are unassociated funerary objects. The 16 unassociated funerary
objects are 1 stone resembling a human foot (WHIT-A-0039); 1 stone
scraper (WHIT-BR-0076); 1 pestle (WHIT-BR-0089); and 13 stone
implements (WHIT-BR-0040, WHIT-A-0035, WHIT-BR-0042, 0044, 0045, 0066-
0071, 0093, 0094).
At an unknown date, a stone pestle (Whit-O-0137) was collected at
the mouth of the Walla Walla River by Lew C. Greenwood. In 1922, the
pestle was loaned to the Maxey Museum by Mr. Greenwood. Since that
time, no one has come forward to claim the stone pestle and the museum
and college have acquired legal possession of this artifact to
facilitate the NAGPRA process. Based on provenience, the museum
reasonably believes the stone pestle is an unassociated funerary
object.
In 1908, a stone hammer (WHIT-U-0146) was removed from ``opposite
Memaloose Island, one-half mile from Wallula'' (Mamalose translates to
`burial place'),'' by C.F. Renand. Based on provenience, similarity to
other funerary objects, and tribal consultation evidence, the museum
reasonably believes the stone hammer is an unassociated funerary
object.
The enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation are direct descendants of the Imatalaml[aacute]ma
(Umatilla), Waluulapam (Walla Walla), and Weyiiletpu (Cayuse) people
who have lived, traveled, and are buried in their aboriginal
territories of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. They
are described in the ethnographic literature as people who fished;
gathered roots, berries, medicines, and other flora; and hunted on a
seasonal-round basis (Ray 1938, Stern 1998, Suphan 1974, and Swindell
1942). Winter villages for the Imatalaml[aacute]ma, Weyiiletpu, and
Waluulapam were located along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In the
summer, the tribes headed into the mountains adjacent to these rivers
and tributaries to hunt, fish, and gather along the tributaries of the
Walla Walla, Umatilla, John Day, Grande Ronde, Wallowa, Imnaha, Powder,
and Burnt Rivers. Two major permanent winter villages, Imatalam and
Waluula, were along the Columbia River at the mouths of the Umatilla
and Walla Walla Rivers. Both of these sites were surrounded by burial
areas which were looted or excavated over the course of many years.
Many artifacts found their way into museum collections. The above
mentioned cultural items are considered unassociated funerary objects
by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation due to
their original location in known burial sites, and that they are
similar to other funerary objects that have already been repatriated to
them.
Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 37 cultural items
described 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of Native
American individuals. 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 unassociated funerary objects 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 unassociated funerary objects should
contact Nina Lerman, Director, Northwest Museum, Maxey Hall, Whitman
College, 345 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509) 527-
5888 or (509) 527-5798, before May 3, 2010. Repatriation of the
unassociated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla
[[Page 16504]]
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 16, 2010
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-7252 Filed 3-31-10; 8:45 am]
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