Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, 52501-52503 [E9-24595]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52501-52503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24595]


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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 cultural items were loaned to the Maryhill 
Museum of Art by Harvey T. and Bessie

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Day Harding of Wenatchee, WA. In 1979, their children, Ethel L. 
Harding, Helen Harding Schmidt, and Charles L. Harding, converted the 
loan to a gift (Accession 1972.02). Mr. H.T. Harding and his 
associates gathered and excavated the items listed in this notice from 
numerous Indian burial sites along the Columbia River in what are now 
the states of Washington and Oregon. Mr. Harding kept a journal of 
where he dug and what he removed from each site (and below all words in 
quotes are from Harding's journal). In 1995, Maryhill Museum conducted 
an inventory, which compared Harding's journal and inventory numbers 
with the museum's Harding Collection. Since that inventory, the museum 
has consulted with tribes and during consultation with 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, a non-Federally recognized Indian group, the museum was requested 
to handle the cultural items as little as possible. Because many of the 
cultural items are in sealed bags and boxes, and the 1995 inventory did 
not include an inventory count of the objects with the boxes and bags, 
there has not been a specific count of all items.
    At an unknown date, cultural items were removed from graves that 
were ``10 miles South of the East Bank of Columbia River.'' The two 
unassociated funerary objects are one lot of dentalium shells and one 
regalia fragment (Box 62).
    On November 3, 1920, cultural items were removed from a grave that 
was ``1/4 mile NW of Vulcan Station and about 200 feet from the 
Columbia River.'' The six unassociated funerary objects are a piece of 
diatomaceous earth, one knife, two stone projectile points, one bone 
point, and one bone awl (Box 63).
    On November 4, 1920, cultural items were removed from a grave 
``Along Columbia River in North end of Grant Co., about two miles below 
Vulcan.'' The five unassociated funerary objects are one broken knife, 
one pendant, one lot of bead forms, and two bottles of red ochre (Box 
64).
    In October 1920, cultural items were removed from two graves ``in 
the slide rock, at edge of bluff, East of Vantage camp site.'' The 55 
unassociated funerary objects are 2 pestles, 1 obsidian knife, 12 shaft 
abraders, 1 antler handle, 18 bone fragments, 11 antler fragments, 1 
modified antler tine, 1 utilized horn tool, 1 utilized antler tine, 6 
points, and 1 lot of fiber (Boxes 65-67).
    On July 2, 1922, cultural items were removed from a grave on the 
``Columbia River at Vulcan.'' The one unassociated funerary object is a 
petrified wood biface (Box 69).
    At an unknown date, cultural items were removed from a grave at 
``Wahluke Ferry.'' The one box of unassociated funerary objects 
contains 10 bags (Box 68), which includes, but are not limited to, 
miscellaneous bead forms in sand; numerous beads; a basalt cobble; a 
beaded awl sheath; 2 small abraders; a group of dentalium shells; 2 
pipes; 2 clam shells; points; metal, cordage, and mat fragments; an elk 
horn wedge; copper bracelets, pieces, and fragments; and 2 chisels.
    On October 20-25, 1922, and numerous unknown dates until 1924, 
cultural items were removed from a grave at ``1/2 mile upriver from the 
Richmond Ferry.'' The one box of unassociated funerary objects contains 
27 bags of uncounted objects (Bags 1-27, 836-847).
    At an unknown date, cultural items were removed from a grave at the 
``Mouth of the Yakima River.'' The one box of unassociated funerary 
objects contains approximately 65 pieces of stone tools (Box 71).
    On an unknown date, one cultural item was removed from a grave, 
which is located about ``1 mile South of Vulcan.'' The one unassociated 
funerary object is a pestle (484).
    Sometime between September 3 and 10, 1923, cultural items were 
removed from the surface of ``Memaloose Island.'' Memaloose Island is 
known to have many Native American burials. The unassociated funerary 
object is one lot of beads.
    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, a non-Federally recognized 
Indian group, are descendants of the Native American communities that 
used the Columbia River area. Based on museum records and consultation 
evidence, Maryhill Museum of Art officials have determined that the 
Harding Collection was collected along the shores of the Columbia 
River. Based on linguistic, oral tradition, geographic and consultation 
evidence, Maryhill Museum of Art officials have determined that there 
is a shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the above-mentioned Indian tribes and 
group.
    Officials of the Maryhill Museum of Art have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 74 unassociated funerary 
objects, including 3 boxes of unassociated funerary objects, 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 specific burial sites of Native 
American individuals. 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 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; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho. Furthermore, 
officials of the Maryhill Museum of Art have determined that there is a 
cultural relationship between the unassociated funerary objects and the 
Wanapum Band, a non-Federally recognized Indian group. The above-
mentioned Indian tribes and group have submitted a joint claim for 
repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects.
    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 November 12, 2009. Repatriation of the unassociated 
funerary objects to 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, a 
non-Federally recognized Indian group, may proceed after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    The Maryhill Museum of Art is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation

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of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, 
Washington; Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and the Wanapum Band, a non-
Federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 9, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-24595 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S