[Federal Register: October 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 61838-61839]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26oc05-119]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Horner Collection,
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Horner
Collection, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 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.
The five cultural items are one drum, one drumstick, one Coho or
shinny stick, one trinket basket, and one wallet basket. Three of the
cultural items are part of the Dr. J.L. Hill collection.
Horner Collection, Oregon State University professional staff
consulted with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz
Reservation, Oregon; Karuk Tribe of California; Quinault Tribe of the
Quinault Reservation, Washington; and Shoalwater Bay Tribe of the
Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation, Washington.
The Museum of Oregon Country, Oregon Agricultural College acquired
the collection from Dr. Hill's son and daughter in 1925. The Museum of
Oregon Country was renamed the John B. Horner Museum of the Oregon
Country in 1936, and became commonly known as the Horner Museum. The
Oregon Agricultural College was renamed the Oregon State College in
1937, and became Oregon State University in 1962. In 1981, Dr. Hill's
heirs, Emily Hill Ward and her son, Fred Ward signed a gift agreement
transferring ownership of Dr. Hill's entire collection to the museum.
The Horner Museum closed in 1995. Currently, cultural items from the
Horner Museum are referred to as the Horner Collection, which is owned
by, and in the possession of, Oregon State University.
At an unknown date, one drum and drumstick were removed from the
Siletz Reservation, OR, by Mr. C.S. Davis. In 1921, Dr. J.L. Hill's
heirs loaned the drum and drumstick to the Museum of Oregon Country. It
is believed that Mr. Davis had given the cultural items to Dr. Hill
specifically to donate to the Museum of Oregon Country. In the 1981
gift agreement, Dr. Hill's heirs transferred ownership of Dr. Hill's
entire collection, including the drum and drumstick, to the Horner
Collection, Oregon State University.
The museum records for the drum and drumstick state that they were
originally made by Moses Lane of the Siletz Reservation, OR. A cultural
representative of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation,
Oregon has said that the drum and drumstick would have been used to
enhance the spiritual development of the owner. Traditionally, the drum
and drumstick would have been uniquely and solely connected to the
owner and would have been buried with the owner. Furthermore, according
to museum records, a note attached to the drum reads, ``You will notice
that the framework is hand made and cut out with crude tools. The cover
is tanned horsehide. These drums are used at tribal ceremonies, dances,
games etc. and are generally buried with the remains of the owner.''
The Horner Collection, Oregon State University has no evidence the
drum and drumstick were ever buried with Moses Lane or any other
individual. However, museum records state that Dr. Hill was known to
have collected human remains and cultural items from burials and
mounds. Based on consultation and museum records, the Horner
Collection, Oregon State University finds that the intent was to
maintain the spiritual connection between owner and object through the
burial of the cultural items with their owner and has therefore
identified the cultural items as unassociated funerary objects.
At an unknown date, one shinny or Coho stick was removed from an
unknown location by Dr. Hill. In 1921, Dr. Hill's heirs loaned the
cultural item to the museum. In the 1981 gift agreement, Dr. Hill's
heirs, transferred ownership of Dr. Hill's entire collection, including
the shinny or Coho stick, to the Horner Collection, Oregon State
University.
According to museum records the shinny or Coho stick was created by
Andrew Smith of the Siletz Reservation, OR. A cultural representative
of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon has said
that the shinny or Coho stick would have been used to enhance the
spiritual development of the owner. Therefore, a shinny or Coho stick
would have been uniquely and solely connected to the owner, and
traditionally such items were buried with the owner. The Horner
Collection, Oregon State University has no evidence that the shinny or
Coho stick was ever buried with Andrew Smith or any other individual.
However,
[[Page 61839]]
museum records state that Dr. Hill was known to have collected human
remains and cultural items from burials and mounds. Based on
consultation and museum records, the Horner Collection, Oregon State
University finds that the intent was to maintain the spiritual
connection between owner and object through the burial of this cultural
item with its owner and has therefore identified the cultural item as
an unassociated funerary object.
At an unknown date, one trinket basket and one wallet basket were
removed from an unknown location by Mr. W.C. Dyer. In 1934, Mrs. S.C.
Dyer, the wife of Mr. Dyer, donated the trinket basket and wallet
basket to the museum. The Horner Collection, Oregon State University
has no evidence the trinket and wallet baskts were ever buried with any
individual. However, museum records state that Mr. Dyer was known to
have collected human remains and cultural items from burials and
mounds. Based on consultation and museum records, the Horner
Collection, Oregon State University has identified the cultural items
as unassociated funerary objects.
According to museum records, both the trinket and wallet baskets
are Clatsop in origin. Any direct Clatsop descendant who meets the
Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon enrollment
criteria is eligible for membership in the Confederated Tribes of the
Siletz Reservation, Oregon. The Clatsop are ancestors of the present-
day Chinook Tribe. The Chinook Tribe has cultural and political ties to
the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon. The Chinook
Tribe is a confederated member of the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz
Reservation, Oregon.
Officials of the Horner Collection, Oregon State University have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the five 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 specific burial sites of Native
American individuals. Officials of the Horner Collection, Oregon State
University 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 five unassociated funerary objects and the
Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should
contact Sabah Randhawa, Executive Vice President and Provost,
President's Office, Oregon State University, 600 Kerr Administration
Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, telephone (541) 737-8260, before
November 25, 2005. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to
the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Horner Collection, Oregon State University is responsible for
notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of
Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon; Karuk
Tribe of California; Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation,
Washington; and Shoalwater Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian
Reservation, Washington that this notice has been published.
Dated:September 28, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-21329 Filed 10-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S