[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 168 (Thursday, August 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50117-50118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17204]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Augusta Museum of 
History, Augusta, GA

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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Augusta Museum of 
History, Augusta, GA 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.
    At an unknown date, two cultural items were collected from ``a 
grave near Walla Walla, Washington,'' located in Walla Walla County, 
WA, by L.W. Stillwell of Deadwood, SD (Catalogue number K-17 and K-19). 
At an unknown date, the cultural items came into the possession of 
Chester E. Story of Augusta, GA, and were subsequently purchased by 
Jouett Davenport, also of Augusta, GA, in January 1932. In April 1963, 
Mr. Davenport donated the cultural items to the Augusta Museum of 
History (then the Augusta-Richmond County Museum). The two unassociated 
funerary objects are one string of glass and shell disc beads, and one 
string of colored glass beads.
    The donor of the collection, Mr. Davenport, told the Augusta Museum 
that the beads came from a grave near Walla Walla. The two strings of 
beads are typical personal adornment items that were often buried with 
the deceased. The beads date to the historic period, placing the grave 
within the post-European contact era or after trading was established 
in the area around 1818.

[[Page 50118]]

    The Pa cxapu band of the Weyiiletpuu (Cayuse) wintered in the area 
presently known as the City of Walla Walla. The Weyiiletpuu had fishing 
sites and summer camps along the Walla Walla River. Oral histories 
identify the area as where the Weyiiletpuu, Imatalamlama, and 
Waluulapam live, and also identified many burial places of their 
ancestors within the valley and city limits of Walla Walla. Descendants 
of the Weyiiletpuu, Imatalamlama, and Waluulapam are members of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon.
    Officials of the Augusta Museum of History 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 an Native 
American individual. Officials of the Augusta Museum of History 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 Umatilla Reservation, Oregon.
    Representatives of any other Indian Tribes that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Misty Tilson, Registrar, Augusta Museum of History, 560 
Reynolds St., Augusta, GA 30901, telephone (706) 722 - 8454, before 
October 1, 2007. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to 
the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Augusta Museum of History is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 8, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA.
[FR Doc. E7-17204 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
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