[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38418-38419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10508]


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

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 Museum of Oregon Country, Oregon Agricultural College 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. 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.
    Horner Collection, Oregon State University professional staff 
consulted with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm 
Springs Reservation of Oregon, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of 
Oregon, and Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. The Seminole Tribe 
of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations and Seminole Nation of Oklahoma were informed, but did not 
participate in the consultations.
    At an unknown date, two necklaces composed of French porcelain 
beads, alligator teeth, iron grape beads, and Sea beans were removed 
from an unknown location. J.L. Hill loaned the necklaces

[[Page 38419]]

to the Horner Museum in 1933, and they were gifted to the Horner Museum 
by the heirs of Mr. Hill in 1981.
    Although the necklaces are nearly identical, museum records 
indicate only one is Seminole in cultural affiliation. A representative 
of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida has identified the two 
cultural items as traditional to the Miccosukee and as cultural items 
that would have been buried with their owner. The Horner Collection, 
Oregon State University has no evidence the cultural items were ever 
buried with any individual. However, Mr. Hill is known to have 
collected human remains and cultural items from burials and mounds. 
Based on information obtained through consultation, the Horner 
Collection, Oregon State University has identified the two cultural 
items as unassociated funerary objects.
    Officials of the Horner Collection, Oregon State University have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two 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 a 
Native American individual. 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 two unassociated funerary objects and the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.
    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 August 
7, 2006. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida may proceed after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    The Horner Collection, Oregon State University is responsible for 
notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of 
Oregon; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of Oregon; Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians of Florida; Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; and Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 25, 2006.
C. Timothy McKeown,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-10508 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S