[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51067-51069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24960]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum, University of 
Washington, Seattle, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to 
repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Thomas Burke 
Memorial Washington State Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, 
WA, that meet the definition of ``sacred objects;'' under Section 2 of 
the Act.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determination within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    The cultural items are two bird rattles, an eagle feather 
headdress, a cedar bark headband, a bottle of red paint, a beaded 
otter-skin sash, a carved wooden staff, and a drum and drumstick.
    A bird rattle painted blue and red (catalog number 78) was 
collected by the Reverend Myron Eells for the Washington World's Fair 
Commission in 1893. Museum documentation provides a description by Rev. 
Eells of the rattle: ``Black Tamahnous rattle used in religious 
ceremonies. Obtained from Billy Hall, a Quinaielt.'' The rattle was a 
gift to the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum from the 
Washington World's Fair Commission after the fair in 1893. Consultation 
evidence provided by representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the 
Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington, indicates that this bird 
rattle is essential to the Klookwalli religious practices of the tribe.
    In 1938, the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum 
purchased an unpainted bird rattle identified as Quinault (catalog 
number 1-7) from Glenn Gwin. Consultation evidence

[[Page 51068]]

provided by representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault 
Indian Reservation, Washington, indicates that this bird rattle is 
essential to the Klookwalli religious practices of the tribe.
    An eagle feather headdress (catalog number 69) was collected by the 
Reverend Myron Eells on the Quinault Reservation for the Washington 
World's Fair Commission in 1893. Museum documentation provides a 
description by Rev. Eells of the headdress: ``Tamahnous head dress 
obtained by James Kohta, an Indian of the reservation, worn during 
religious ceremonies.'' The headdress was a gift to the Thomas Burke 
Memorial Washington State Museum from the Washington World's Fair 
Commission after the fair in 1893. Consultation evidence provided by 
representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian 
Reservation, Washington, indicates that this headdress is essential to 
the Klookwalli religious practices of the tribe.
    A cedar bark headband (catalog number 170) was collected by the 
Reverend Myron Eells on the Quinault Reservation for the Washington 
World's Fair Commission in 1893. Museum documentation provides a 
description by Rev. Eells of the headband: ``Tamahnous head band of 
cedar bark used in religious ceremonies, obtained from Bob Pope, a 
Quinaielt.'' The headdress was a gift to the Thomas Burke Memorial 
Washington State Museum from the Washington World's Fair Commission 
after the fair in 1893. Consultation evidence provided by 
representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian 
Reservation, Washington, indicates that this headdress is essential to 
the Klookwalli religious practices of the tribe.
    A bottle of red paint (catalog number 180) was collected by the 
Reverend Myron Eells on the Quinault Reservation for the Washington 
World's Fair Commission in 1893. Museum documentation provides a 
description by Rev. Eells of the item: ``red paint.'' The paint was a 
gift to the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum from the 
Washington World's Fair Commission after the fair in 1893. Consultation 
evidence provided by representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the 
Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington, indicates that red paint is 
essential to the Klookwalli religious practices of the tribe.
    A beaded otter-skin sash with attached deer-hoof rattles (catalog 
number 5) was collected by the Reverend Myron Eells on the Quinault 
Reservation for the Washington World's Fair Commission in 1893. Museum 
documentation provides a description by Rev. Eells of the sash: ``Otter 
Tamahnous or beaded work on an otter skin used in religious ceremonies. 
Obtained from John Clip an Indian of the reservation. The last of a 
suit of the kind.'' John Clipp was a known Quinault speaker and leader 
of ceremony, which is a sacred appointment. The sash was a gift to the 
Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum from the Washington 
World's Fair Commission after the fair in 1893. The beaded otter-skin 
sash has been identified as river otter by zoologists at the Thomas 
Burke Memorial Washington State Museum and Rev. Eells' notes further 
identify the sash as having come to Mr. Clipp from the Yakama or 
Klickitat in trade. The style of beadwork on the sash supports this 
evidence, though some Quinault women are known to have done beadwork as 
early as 1890. Consultation evidence provided by representatives of the 
Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington,indicates 
that this sash is essential to religious practices of the tribe. The 
addition of deer hoof rattles to the sash is consistent with its use as 
a religious object by the Quinault, and indicates the sacred use of the 
sash.
    A wooden staff carved in the form of a human figure with inlaid 
glass beads at the eyes and a button inlaid at the chest (catalog 
number 79) was collected by the Reverend Myron Eells on the Quinault 
Reservation for the Washington World's Fair Commission in 1893. Museum 
documentation provides a description by Rev. Eells of the staff: 
``Tamahnous stick for carrying in the hand used in religious 
ceremonies.'' The staff was a gift to the Thomas Burke Memorial 
Washington Sate Museum from the Washington World's Fair Commission 
after the fair in 1893. Consultation evidence provided by 
representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian 
Reservation, Washington, indicates that this type of staff is used for 
personal spirit power and functions to expel malicious spirits that may 
be upon a person. At the current time, there are a number of 
individuals in the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian Reservation, 
Washington, that are undergoing training in the use of this type of 
power staff and, therefore, this object is essential to religious 
healing practices of the tribe.
    An unpainted round skin drum and drumstick (catalog number 91) was 
collected by the Reverend Myron Eells on the Quinault Reservation for 
the Washington World's Fair Commission in 1893. The drum was a gift to 
the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum from the Washington 
World's Fair Commission after the fair in 1893. Museum documentation 
provides a description by Rev. Eells of the item: ``Drum obtained from 
Willie Mason a Quinaielt but bought by him at Neah Bay. Covered with 
skin of sea lion.'' Consultation evidence provided by representatives 
of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington, 
indicates that this drum and drumstick are essential to ongoing 
religious practices of the tribe. The drum in Quinault society is used 
in many arenas, but its use is sacred within each setting, and is used 
to accompany ritual singing and dancing during ongoing religious 
practices.
    Documentation associated with these cultural items and information 
provided by representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault 
Indian Reservation, Washington, indicates that these cultural items are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional Quinault religious 
leaders for the practice of traditional Native American religion by 
present-day adherents. Representatives of the Quinault Tribe of the 
Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington, also confirmed that there is a 
relationship of shared group identity between these sacred objects and 
the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Thomas 
Burke Memorial Washington State Museum have determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(3), these eight cultural items are specific 
ceremonial items needed by traditional Native American religious 
leaders of the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian Reservation, 
Washington, for the practice of traditional Native American religion by 
present-day adherents. Officials of the Thomas Burke Memorial 
Washington State Museum also have determined that there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between these sacred objects and the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault 
Indian Reservation, Washington.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Quinault Tribe of the 
Quinault Indian Reservation, Washington. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these sacred objects should contact Robin K. Wright, Curator of Native 
American Art, Burke Museum, Box 353010, University of Washington, 
Seattle, WA 98195-3010, telephone (206) 543-5595, before November 5, 
2001. Repatriation of these eight sacred

[[Page 51069]]

objects to the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Indian Reservation, 
Washington, may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: July 18, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24960 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M