[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47231-47232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18692]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Northwest Museum, Whitman 
College, Walla Walla, WA

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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of Northwest Museum, Whitman College, Walla 
Walla, WA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Umatilla County, OR, and Benton and Walla Walla Counties, 
WA.
    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 Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by Northwest Museum, Whitman College professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes 
of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    In 1929, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from near the junction of the north and south forks of the 
Walla Walla River, Umatilla County, OR, by Mr. Demaris and donated to 
the Northwest Museum, formerly Maxey Museum, on March 31, 1929 (Accn. 
5563, Cat. WHIT-X-0014). No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    A village and fishing site of the Long-hair Band of the Weyiiletpuu 
was located at Nushnu-pa, at this location on the Walla Walla River. 
Today, the Weyiiletpuu, or Cayuse Tribe, are a part of the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon. The Cayuse 
traditionally lived within the Walla Walla-Milton-Freewater area and 
the drainages of the Walla Walla River, which is within the ceded lands 
of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    In 1949, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from Plymouth, Site 21, ``150 yards north of the 
ferry landing,''

[[Page 47232]]

Benton County, WA, by Dr. Melvin C. Jacobs and accessioned by the 
museum (Accn. A26, Cat. WHIT-H-004). No known 
individuals were identified. The 22 associated funerary objects are 1 
lot of rusted nails, 1 lot of metal fragments, 1 lot of spikes and 
spoons, 11 stone tools, 1 stone, 1 stone object, 3 adzes, 1 brass 
kerosene lamp wick holder, 1 canoe weight, and 1 pestle. (Cat. 
WHIT-H-1 to 3, 6, 8 to 12, 14 to 19, and 21 to 26)
    The human remains were found within the confines of an abandoned 
Hudson Bay trading site. It was determined by Dr. Jacobs that the human 
remains had been interred after the trading post had been abandoned. 
Based on earlier excavations at the site, the human remains are 
determined to be Native American. The Imatalamlama, or Umatilla Tribe, 
now a part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon, had a permanent camp and fishing site called So-
luc-a across the Columbia River from Umatilla, OR, on the Washington 
shoreline, near present-day Plymouth, WA. This area is within the ceded 
lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 
Oregon.
    In 1950, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from site 45BN15 or Site 18, Rabbit Island, 
Benton County, WA, by Thomas R. Garth, Jr., and accessioned into the 
museum (Accn. J500 and 2356, Cat. Whit-J-
0014). No known individual was identified. The one associated funerary 
object is one lot of red ochre.
    Rabbit Island was on the Homly Channel of the Columbia River and 
was an important burial site and habitation area for the Waluulapam, 
who are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon. The site is also near two important salmon and eel 
fishing sites known as Tomist-pa and Khus-us-ienim-tala-wit.
    In 1950, human remains representing a minimum of eight individuals 
were removed from site 45BN55, Sheep Island, Site 17, Benton 
County, WA, by Thomas R. Garth, Jr. and accessioned into the museum 
(Cat Whit-J-028, 034, 057, 060, 063-072, 107-108). No known 
individuals were identified. The 63 associated funerary objects are 46 
light red beads, 11 pestle fragments, 2 flint scrapers, 1 rock with 
ochre, 1 mud-dauber's nest, 1 sandstone smoother, and 1 bag of 
charcoal. (Cat.  WHIT-J-2, 3, 5, 18, 19, 23 to 25, and 133)
    Sheep Island was an important burial island for the Imatalamlam and 
is within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    In 1952, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were excavated during construction at the Green Park Elementary School 
Ground in Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, WA, and accessioned into the 
museum (Cat. WHIT-X-013). No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    The land occupied by the city of Walla Walla was used by the 
Weyiiletpuu and the Waluulapam as a wintering ground, hunting, fishing, 
and food gathering area. Oral histories from representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon place 
their direct ancestors' camping area in the vicinity of the Green Park 
Elementary School Ground. The Walla Walla area is within the ceded 
lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 
Oregon.
    In 1962, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the Stanley Tucker farm near Milton-Freewater, 
Umatilla County, OR, and accessioned into the museum (Accn. 
Whit-26, Cat. Whit-X-16). No known individuals were 
identified. The three associated funerary objects are one stone and two 
shell fragments. (Cat. WHIT-X-52 to 54)
    The Milton-Freewater area was a wintering area, and food and 
resource gathering area for the Waluulapam and Weyiiletpuu. The site is 
also within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from most likely the Walla Walla area, WA. The 
human remains were accessioned into the museum at an unknown date 
(Accn. 11066, Cat. WHIT-X-012). No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    During the NAGPRA inventory this individual human remain was found 
in the collection with a note stating that it was ``Found in Walla 
Walla area.'' This individual is determined to be Native American by 
the significant tooth wear and other identifying characteristics. The 
Walla Walla area is a traditional use area for the Waluulapam and 
Weyiiletpuu, and within the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of 
the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    The determination of cultural affiliation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been based upon geographic, 
archeological, historical, ethnological, and linguistic evidence, as 
well as the oral tradition and kinship traditions of the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon. Primary information 
sources are museum accession and catalog records, preliminary 
excavation records, several articles about the Columbia Island McNary 
Dam excavations, consultation with various anthropologists, and 
consultation with tribal representatives of the Confederated Tribes of 
the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman College have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 18 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Northwest Museum, Whitman 
College also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 89 objects 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. Lastly, officials of the 
Northwest Museum, Whitman College 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 Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Indian Reservation, Oregon.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Nina Lerman, Northwest Museum, Whitman 
College, 345 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509) 527- 
5798, before September 12, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla 
Indian Reservation, Oregon may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    Northwest Museum is responsible for notifying the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: June 23, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-18692 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
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