[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58424-58425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23921]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Northwest Museum 
of Arts & Culture, Spokane, 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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Northwest Museum 
of Arts & Culture, aka Eastern Washington State Historical Society, 
Spokane, WA, 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 funerary objects described below were excavated by Donald 
Collier, Alfred E. Hudson and Arlo Ford due to the construction of the 
Grand Coulee Dam and its reservoir (Lake Roosevelt) whose waters would 
soon cover the area. This undertaking was known as ``The Columbian 
Basin Archaeological Survey'' or the ``Collier, Hudson, and Ford 
Project.'' It was a multi-institutional venture involving the Eastern 
Washington State Historical Society (now Northwest Museum of Arts & 
Culture), University of Washington, and the State College of Washington 
(now Washington State University). It was also a multi-agency venture 
involving the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Civilian 
Conservation Corps, and the Works Project Administration (including the 
National Youth Administration). In 1940, the Eastern Washington State 
Historical Society became the repository for the collection, as 
mandated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Portions of the land from which 
the funerary objects derive were non-Federal lands, and other portions 
were Federal lands at the time of removal. Moreover, the Federal lands 
fell under the management authority of several different agencies. 
Consequently, there has been a question of control over the collection. 
After several years of research, the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture 
has been unable to determine additional specifics regarding the control 
of each site. Therefore, absent additional information, the Northwest 
Museum of Arts & Culture is assuming responsibility under NAGPRA with 
regard to publishing this Notice and repatriating the unassociated 
funerary objects to the culturally affiliated tribe.
    During the period July 1939 - September 1940, funerary objects were 
systematically removed from Site 2 (45-LI-27), Lincoln County, WA, by 
Donald Collier, Alfred E. Hudson and Arlo Ford due to the construction 
of the Grand Coulee Dam and its reservoir (Lake Roosevelt), and they 
were accessioned by the museum in 1940 (EWSHS Accession 1027). 
The three unassociated funerary objects are one abalone pendant and two 
projectile points.
    During the period July 1939 - September 1940, funerary objects were 
systematically removed from Site 7A (45-FE-7), Ferry County, WA, by 
Collier, Hudson and Ford due to the construction of the Grand Coulee 
Dam and its reservoir (Lake Roosevelt), and they were accessioned by 
the museum in 1940 (EWSHS Accession 1027). The 42 unassociated 
funerary objects are 7 beaver tooth dice, 1 bone awl pendant, 27 
dentalia beads, 4 copper pendants, 1 copper bracelet, 1 projectile 
point and 1 bone awl.
    During the period July 1939 - September 1940, funerary objects were 
systematically removed from Site 24 (45-FE-24), Ferry County, WA, by 
Collier, Hudson and Ford due to the construction of the Grand Coulee 
Dam and its reservoir (Lake Roosevelt), and they were accessioned by 
the museum in 1940 (EWSHS Accession 1027). The 92 unassociated 
funerary objects are 7 wooden burial markers , 1 dentalia fragment, 5 
glass beads, 9 perforated bear claws, 1 carved beaver tooth, 3 copper 
bells, 1 lot of burial fill, 22 dentalia beads, 2 buckskin or leather

[[Page 58425]]

fragments, 2 antler digging sticks, 1 abalone shell pendant, 2 
scrapers, 2 bone awls, 1 piece of matting, 1 flake, 2 dentalia necklace 
fragments, 1 small box of dentalia beads, 1 bone needle, 1 copper 
pendant, 18 rolled copper beads, 6 dentalium, 1 piece of cordage, 1 
long jadeite celt and 1 chipped flint fragment.
    During the period July 1939 - September 1940, funerary objects were 
systematically removed from Site 46 (45-Stevens-46), Stevens County, 
WA, by Collier, Hudson and Ford due to the construction of the Grand 
Coulee Dam and its reservoir (Lake Roosevelt), and they were 
accessioned by the museum in 1940 (EWSHS Accession 1027). The 
78 unassociated funerary objects are 6 pieces worked bone, 1 jadeite 
chip, 1 jadeite celt, 44 bone implements, 3 stone pipes, 3 projectile 
points, 3 schist scrapers, 1 mussel shell, 1 antler wedge, 1 slate 
needle, 1 slate pendant, 1 pipe fragment, 1 bone awl, 1 slate object, 1 
lot of turgite paint material, 1 arrow shaft smoother, 2 hematite 
pieces, 3 knives, 1 spear point, 1 antler and 1 antler horn implement.
    During the period July 1939 - September 1940, funerary objects were 
systematically removed from Site 47 (45-ST-47), Stevens County, WA, by 
Collier, Hudson and Ford due to the construction of the Grand Coulee 
Dam and its reservoir (Lake Roosevelt), and they were accessioned by 
the museum in 1940 (EWSHS Accession 1027). The 64 unassociated 
funerary objects are 1 copper bracelet, 7 projectile points, 6 bone 
combs, 1 bone implement, 1 bone spearpoint, 2 bone whistles, 27 bone 
awls, 2 copper and shell pendants, 1 spear point, 1 carved stone pipe, 
1 jadeite celt, 1 jadeite adze, 2 bone ornaments (possible combs), 1 
bone flute fragment, 1 coiled basket, 1 turquoise pendant, 1 dentalia, 
2 abalone pendants, 3 glass beads and 1 arrow shaft smoother.
    The unassociated funerary objects described above are consistent 
with cultural items typically found in context with Native American 
burials in eastern Washington State. Furthermore, accession numbers, as 
well as field notes and journal entries, indicate that the cultural 
items were found in connection with human remains. Extensive museum 
documentation, the geographic locations of the sites, burial patterns, 
and consultation from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian 
Reservation, Washington, verify that the cultural items were removed 
from sites that are within the aboriginal territory of the bands of 
Indians that now make up the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian 
Reservation, Washington.
    Officials of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 279 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 Northwest Museum of Arts & 
Culture 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 Colville Indian Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believe themselves 
to be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects 
should contact Mr. Michael Holloman, Northwest Museum of Arts & 
Culture, Spokane, WA 99201, telephone (509) 363-5337, before October 
25, 2010. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, Washington, may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture is responsible for notifying 
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, Washington, 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 10, 2010
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-23921 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
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