Title
Transfer of Collections to Tribal Repositories and Museums
Description
Request authorization for the City Manger, or his designee, to transfer collections belonging to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the former Phoenix Museum of History, along with the associated archival documentation, at the Pueblo Grande Museum to Tribal repositories or museums.
Report
Summary
Pueblo Grande Museum (Museum) is the archaeological repository for the City. The Museum has in its possession, collections belonging to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and collections from the former Phoenix Museum of History. During Tribal consultation, the Museum received requests from the BIA, the Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC) to transfer the aforementioned collections to Tribal repositories or museums.
The Museum has held collections belonging to the BIA since 1939. Objects were collected, under a Department of the Interior permit, from lands within the borders of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Salt River Reservation and Gila Bend Indian Reservation. The BIA Solicitor has determined that ownership (or control) of these collections remains with the BIA. The BIA and the SRP-MIC have requested the Museum transfer these collections to a Tribal repository.
Collections from the former Phoenix Museum of History were transferred from the Arizona Science Center to the Museum in 2012 and 2013. These collections consist of approximately 600 artifacts, mostly from unknown archaeological sites. The majority of these objects have not been added to the Museum’s permanent collection and less than 20 of these objects have been used for educational purposes.
The Parks and Recreation Department believes it is in the best interest of the objects, City, BIA and Tribes to transfer these collections to a Tribal repository or museum.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was heard by the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee on May 4, 2022, and recommended for City Council approval by a vote of 4-0.
Location
Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington St.
Council Districts: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Parks and Recreation Department.