[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71951-71952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24618]


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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.

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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 Horner 
Collection, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR that meet the 
definition of ``sacred 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 six cultural items are two basket caps, three baskets, and one 
pipe.
    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 Coos, 
Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the 
Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Siletz 
Reservation, Oregon; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of Oregon; Hoopa 
Valley Tribe, California; Klamath Tribes, Oregon (formerly the Klamath 
Indian Tribe of Oregon); Pit River Tribe, California (includes XL 
Ranch, Big Ben, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek and Roaring Creek 
Rancherias); Redding Rancheria, California; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash 
Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; Smith River 
Rancheria, California; Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation, 
California; and Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Commission, a non-
federally recognized Indian group.
    On November 30, 1972, Mrs. J. E. Barrett donated one basket cap and 
one tobacco basket. The two cultural items were originally part of a 
loaned collection of Indian baskets dated February 28, 1927. Basket 
caps are used in ceremonial dances that are placed on young female 
dancers and women singers as part of the Tolowa Dee-ni' regalia, and 
continue to be used during ceremonial dances such as Nee-dash ``Feather 
Dance'' or Wealth-display dance. Tobacco baskets store tobacco for the 
use of transmitting prayers up to the Creator during everyday prayer, 
as well as during ceremonial occasions.
    On March 25, 1985, one storage basket and one basket cap from the 
collection of Thomas and Ann Stephens, Ashland, OR, were donated to the 
Horner Museum by Eileen Waring Dew (Mrs. Lawrence). Museum records 
state that the cultural items were made by northwestern California 
Indians between 1880 and 1900. A storage basket is a sacred item that 
is used to store many different herbs and sacred plants used in 
traditional healing practices. Current ceremonial practices include use 
of specific herbs and plants as healing remedies, purification, and are 
often burned during the dance while prayers are offered and transmitted 
to the Creator.
    On July 14, 1986, Charles A. and Audrey L. Boice donated a 
collection of Indian baskets from the collection of Olivia and C.N. 
Edman of Marshfield, OR, to the Horner Collection. Museum records 
indicate the baskets are from southern Oregon and northern California. 
Representatives of the Smith River Rancheria, California have 
identified one basket as Tolowa Dee-ni' in affiliation and that it is 
used for the cooking of food, such as acorns for ceremonies and other 
important community events. Acorns are highly revered and during 
certain ceremonies the acorn is the only food allowable for dancers and 
shaman to consume.
    At an unknown time and date, pipes were donated to the Horner 
Collection. Museum records show one pipe is tubular in design and the 
tag indicates

[[Page 71952]]

that it is from California. The pipe is identified as a sacred item 
traditionally and contemporarily used to smoke tobacco during prayer 
and[sol]or for purification. Representatives of the Smith River 
Rancheria, California have identified the tubular shape of the pipe as 
typical of Tolowa Dee-ni' culture and as a sacred object.
    Tribal representatives of the Smith River Rancheria, California 
have identified the six cultural items as Tolowa in cultural 
affiliation and as sacred items. Descendants of the Tolowa Dee-ni' 
people are members of the Smith River Rancheria, California.
    Officials of the Horner Collection, Oregon State University have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the six cultural 
items described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native American religions by their present-day adherents. 
Officials of 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 sacred objects and the Smith River Rancheria, California.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred 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 January 18, 2008. 
Repatriation of the sacred objects to Smith River Rancheria, California 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Horner Collection, Oregon State University is responsible for 
notifying the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, California; 
Big Lagoon Rancheria, California; Blue Lake Rancheria, California; 
Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community of 
the Colusa Rancheria, California; Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of 
the Trinidad Rancheria, California; Elk Valley Rancheria, California; 
Hoopa Valley Tribe, California; Karuk Tribe of California; Pit River 
Tribe, California (includes XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, 
Montgomery Creek and Roaring Creek Rancherias); Quartz Valley Indian 
Community of the Quartz Valley Reservation of California; Redding 
Rancheria, California; Resighini Rancheria, California; Yurok Tribe of 
the Yurok Reservation, California; and Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation 
Commission, a non-federally recognized Indian group that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: November 28, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-24618 Filed 12-18-07; 8:45 am]
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