Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, 16902 [E8-6561]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 62 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 16902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6561]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Maryhill Museum of 
Art, Goldendale, 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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Maryhill Museum 
of Art, Goldendale, WA, that meet 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.
    In 1943, Native American items were loaned to the Maryhill Museum 
of Art by Harvey T. and Bessie Day Harding of Wenatchee, WA. In 1979, 
their children, Ethel L. Harding, Helen Harding Schmidt, and Charles L. 
Harding gifted the collection to the museum (Maryhill Accession, 
1979.02). Most of the cultural items in the collection were gathered by 
H.T. Harding and his associates between 1920 and 1928 along the 
Columbia River in Oregon and Washington. Mr. Harding's documentation of 
his collection recorded four cedar burial markers, probably found at 
three different sites along the Columbia River. However, there are only 
two cedar burial markers presently in the possession of Maryhill 
Museum. It is unknown which two of the original four were donated to 
the museum. The two cedar burial markers are four feet long.
    According to Mr. Harding's documentation, he received two cedar 
burial markers in September of 1923 from Mrs. S. Bowman. The two burial 
markers from Mrs. Bowman were collected by S. Bowman ``about 15 years 
ago from a party near Coal Springs, Oregon, about 10 miles from 
Wallula. These being in duplicate,'' Mr.Harding reported, he then 
donated one to Adam H. East ``to pay for one that he gave me about 2 
years ago.'' Although Mr. East often accompanied Mr. Harding, it is 
reported that most of Mr. East's collection came from the area near 
Moses Lake, WA, where it still resides in the Moses Lake Art Center. At 
Wahluke Ferry, approximately 15 miles south east of Priest Rapids, Mr. 
Harding reported receiving the following from H. Glauzman, ``One Totem, 
an older specimen than those described above.'' It is believed that 
this is also a cedar burial marker.
    During consultation, representatives of the Confederated Tribes of 
the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon, provided historical evidence that the 
Imatalamlama had a spring and summer camp between Umatilla and Cold 
Springs Junction (also known as Coal Springs) called Tk'uyipa, or ``at 
tule place.'' They have also identified several other nearby sites that 
were important fishing, camping, and burial areas to the Imatalamlama 
and Weyiiletpuu and are located within the area from which the cultural 
items were removed. The Imatalamlama are members of the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon and the Wanapum Band, a non-
federally recognized Indian group. However, since it is unknown which 
of the sites the two burial markers were removed from and many of the 
sites are the traditional and aboriginal use lands common to the 
Umatilla, Yakama, and Wanapum, officials of the Maryhill Museum of Art 
reasonably believe that there is a possible shared group relationship 
between the burial markers and the Umatilla, Yakama, and Wanapum. 
Descendants of the Umatilla are members of the Confederated Tribes of 
the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon. Descendants of the Yakama are members 
of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington. 
Descendants of the Wanapum are members of the Wanapum Band, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.
    Officials of the Maryhill Museum of Art have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two 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 an Native 
American individual. Officials of the Maryhill Museum of Art 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 Reservation, Oregon and possibly the Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington. Furthermore, 
officials of the Maryhill Museum of Art have determined that there may 
be a cultural relationship between the unassociated funerary objects 
and the Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact, Colleen Schafroth, Executive Director, Maryhill Museum of Art, 
35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, WA 98620, telephone (509) 773-
3733, before April 30, 2008. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary 
objects to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Maryhill Museum of Art is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated 
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; and Wanapum Band, a 
non-federally recognized Indian group that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: March 15, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-6561 Filed 3-28-08; 8:45 am]
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