[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 42667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12029]


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

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 four cultural objects are one mortar, one maul, one blanket 
strip, and one unknown lithic.
    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 
Umatilla Reservation, Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm 
Springs Reservation of Oregon. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis 
Reservation, Washington; Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Washington; Shoalwater 
Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation, Washington; and 
Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington were 
informed, but did not participate in the consultations.
    At an unknown date, one mortar was removed from a sand dune on the 
Wishram River, Klickitat County, WA, where it feeds into the Columbia 
River, by an unknown person. In 1934, the mortar was brought to the 
Horner Museum by the heirs of Mr. J.L. Hill and donated to the Horner 
Museum in 1981.
    At an unknown date, a maul was removed from sand dunes near the 
mouth of the Deschutes River where it connects with the Columbia River 
in Wasco County, OR, by Truman Wilcox. According to donor information, 
the sand dunes were where the Indians held their pow-wows. Tribal 
representatives identify this area as a former village site. In 1934, 
the maul was donated to the Horner Museum by J.G. Crawford.
    In the 1880s, the blanket strip was found in an abandoned settler's 
cabin near Columbus (now Maryhill, Klickitat County, WA), along the 
Columbia River by members of the James Berrien family. In 1962, the 
blanket strip was brought to the Horner Museum by Mr. Bliss Clark. It 
is unknown how Mr. Clark acquired the cultural item.
    In the 1880s, an unknown lithic was removed from near Biggs, 
Sherman County, OR, along the Columbia River by Lucius E. Clark. In 
1962, the unknown lithic was brought to the Horner Museum by Mr. Bliss 
Clark. It is unknown how Mr. Clark acquired the lithic.
    The traditional lands of the Tenino, Tygh, Wyam, Dock-Spus, Dalles 
band of Wasco, Ki-Gal-Twal-La band of Wasco, and Dog River band of 
Wasco include Klickitat County in Washington, and Wasco and Sherman 
Counties in Oregon. Descendants of these Indian groups are members of 
the present-day Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of 
Oregon.
    The Horner Collection, Oregon State University has no specific 
evidence that the four cultural items were ever buried with any 
individual. However, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Dyer, and Mr. Hill are known to 
have collected 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.
    Officials of the Horner Collection, Oregon State University have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the four 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 unassociated funerary objects and the 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the four 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 
28, 2006. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Horner Collection, Oregon State University is responsible for 
notifying the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, 
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Cowlitz 
Indian Tribe, Washington; Shoalwater Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay 
Indian Reservation, Washington; and Skokomish Indian Tribe of the 
Skokomish Reservation, Washington that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 20, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-12029 Filed 7-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S