Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Northwest Museum Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 16502-16504 [2010-7252]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16502-16504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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

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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]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S