Chamberlain updates council on Native American remains

WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla City Manager Elizabeth Chamberlain updated the city council last week about the Native American remains found at Pioneer Park. She detailed the city’s ongoing actions related to this discovery as part of the Whitman Street improvement project. A consultation meeting was held on Jan. 13 with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

During the Jan. 13 meeting, meeting, Chamberlain explained they discussed the steps the city must take and the tribes’ requests. DAHP completed its work and asked the city to secure the site more thoroughly, which has been done by installing fencing. The city needs to resend letters to initiate consultation with the affected tribes. They are also working to hire an archaeologist to guide them through the permitting process. The tribes requested moving some disturbed soil back to its original location.

The plan will address whether this soil replacement should involve mechanical equipment or manual labor to minimize disturbance. The city is coordinating with CTUIR for recommendations on consultants. Once the plan is approved by DAHP and the tribes, implementation will begin. The affected tribes have requested that the female remains be reburied in her original resting spot.

Chamberlain noted that although there may be no visible actions, much planning is taking place behind the scenes to fulfill the city’s responsibilities. Council Member Monte Ellis inquired about the possibility of a monument, to which Chamberlain replied that typically the tribes prefer privacy, but there may be protective measures after reburial.

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