FR Doc E8-18692[Federal Register: August 13, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 157)]
[Notices]
[Page 47231-47232]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au08-131]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Northwest Museum, Whitman
College, Walla Walla, 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. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects in the possession of Northwest Museum, Whitman College, Walla
Walla, WA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from Umatilla County, OR, and Benton and Walla Walla Counties,
WA.
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 Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary
objects was made by Northwest Museum, Whitman College professional
staff in consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
In 1929, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from near the junction of the north and south forks of the
Walla Walla River, Umatilla County, OR, by Mr. Demaris and donated to
the Northwest Museum, formerly Maxey Museum, on March 31, 1929 (Accn.
5563, Cat. WHIT-X-0014). No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
A village and fishing site of the Long-hair Band of the Weyiiletpuu
was located at Nushnu-pa, at this location on the Walla Walla River.
Today, the Weyiiletpuu, or Cayuse Tribe, are a part of the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon. The Cayuse
traditionally lived within the Walla Walla-Milton-Freewater area and
the drainages of the Walla Walla River, which is within the ceded lands
of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
In 1949, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals
were removed from Plymouth, Site 21, "150 yards north of the
ferry landing,"
[[Page 47232]]
Benton County, WA, by Dr. Melvin C. Jacobs and accessioned by the
museum (Accn. A26, Cat. WHIT-H-004). No known
individuals were identified. The 22 associated funerary objects are 1
lot of rusted nails, 1 lot of metal fragments, 1 lot of spikes and
spoons, 11 stone tools, 1 stone, 1 stone object, 3 adzes, 1 brass
kerosene lamp wick holder, 1 canoe weight, and 1 pestle. (Cat.
WHIT-H-1 to 3, 6, 8 to 12, 14 to 19, and 21 to 26)
The human remains were found within the confines of an abandoned
Hudson Bay trading site. It was determined by Dr. Jacobs that the human
remains had been interred after the trading post had been abandoned.
Based on earlier excavations at the site, the human remains are
determined to be Native American. The Imatalamlama, or Umatilla Tribe,
now a part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon, had a permanent camp and fishing site called So-
luc-a across the Columbia River from Umatilla, OR, on the Washington
shoreline, near present-day Plymouth, WA. This area is within the ceded
lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Oregon.
In 1950, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from site 45BN15 or Site 18, Rabbit Island,
Benton County, WA, by Thomas R. Garth, Jr., and accessioned into the
museum (Accn. J500 and 2356, Cat. Whit-J-
0014). No known individual was identified. The one associated funerary
object is one lot of red ochre.
Rabbit Island was on the Homly Channel of the Columbia River and
was an important burial site and habitation area for the Waluulapam,
who are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon. The site is also near two important salmon and eel
fishing sites known as Tomist-pa and Khus-us-ienim-tala-wit.
In 1950, human remains representing a minimum of eight individuals
were removed from site 45BN55, Sheep Island, Site 17, Benton
County, WA, by Thomas R. Garth, Jr. and accessioned into the museum
(Cat Whit-J-028, 034, 057, 060, 063-072, 107-108). No known
individuals were identified. The 63 associated funerary objects are 46
light red beads, 11 pestle fragments, 2 flint scrapers, 1 rock with
ochre, 1 mud-dauber's nest, 1 sandstone smoother, and 1 bag of
charcoal. (Cat. WHIT-J-2, 3, 5, 18, 19, 23 to 25, and 133)
Sheep Island was an important burial island for the Imatalamlam and
is within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation, Oregon.
In 1952, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were excavated during construction at the Green Park Elementary School
Ground in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, WA, and accessioned into the
museum (Cat. WHIT-X-013). No known individual was identified.
No associated funerary objects are present.
The land occupied by the city of Walla Walla was used by the
Weyiiletpuu and the Waluulapam as a wintering ground, hunting, fishing,
and food gathering area. Oral histories from representatives of the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon place
their direct ancestors' camping area in the vicinity of the Green Park
Elementary School Ground. The Walla Walla area is within the ceded
lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Oregon.
In 1962, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals
were removed from the Stanley Tucker farm near Milton-Freewater,
Umatilla County, OR, and accessioned into the museum (Accn.
Whit-26, Cat. Whit-X-16). No known individuals were
identified. The three associated funerary objects are one stone and two
shell fragments. (Cat. WHIT-X-52 to 54)
The Milton-Freewater area was a wintering area, and food and
resource gathering area for the Waluulapam and Weyiiletpuu. The site is
also within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation, Oregon.
At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from most likely the Walla Walla area, WA. The
human remains were accessioned into the museum at an unknown date
(Accn. 11066, Cat. WHIT-X-012). No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
During the NAGPRA inventory this individual human remain was found
in the collection with a note stating that it was ``Found in Walla
Walla area.'' This individual is determined to be Native American by
the significant tooth wear and other identifying characteristics. The
Walla Walla area is a traditional use area for the Waluulapam and
Weyiiletpuu, and within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of
the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
The determination of cultural affiliation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects has been based upon geographic,
archeological, historical, ethnological, and linguistic evidence, as
well as the oral tradition and kinship traditions of the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon. Primary information
sources are museum accession and catalog records, preliminary
excavation records, several articles about the Columbia Island McNary
Dam excavations, consultation with various anthropologists, and
consultation with tribal representatives of the Confederated Tribes of
the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 18 individuals of
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman
College also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A),
the 89 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. Lastly, officials of the
Northwest Museum, Whitman College 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 Native American human remains and
associated 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 human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Dr. Nina Lerman, Northwest Museum, Whitman
College, 345 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509) 527-
5798, before September 12, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation, Oregon may proceed after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Northwest Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon that this notice has
been published.
Dated: June 23, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-18692 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
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