Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

In a disheartening act of disrespect, a large rock adorned with Native American petroglyphs at Indian Memorial Park, situated near Ice Harbor Lock and Dam east of Pasco, Washington, has been defaced with pink spray paint. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who discovered the damage on March 28, believes the vandalism occurred that day. This ancient rock, bearing the cultural narratives and histories of Native American tribes, represents a sacred connection to the past for many indigenous communities.

The Walla Walla Sheriff's Office, as reported by The Chronicle, has yet to identify any suspects in connection with the incident. Over the years, the Corps has frequently engaged contractors skilled in graffiti removal who collaborate closely with their Archaeological department to undertake cleaning and conservation work on such sensitive historical artifacts.

This vandalism has led to the temporary closure of a spur road near Shoreline Drive in Burbank, Washington, as the Walla Walla District of the Corps assesses the damage and explores options to restore the site to its original state. Access to Indian Memorial Park, a cultural site designated in 1965 to commemorate tribal history in the region, remains open from State Highway 124 to Monument Drive, then right on Shoreline Road.

Indian Memorial Park was established on approximately 15 acres to honor the history and culture of the Native American tribes affected by the construction of Ice Harbor Lock and Dam in 1956, which submerged significant tribal lands under more than 100 feet of water. The park serves as a memorial for the flooded burial grounds and other culturally significant sites, including the now-vandalized rock with petroglyphs.

The park holds significance for several tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Wanapum Band. These communities view the petroglyphs as crucial elements of their heritage, representing centuries-old narratives and historical documentation.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have expressed profound dismay over the incident. Teara Farrow Ferman, CTUIR Cultural Resources Protection Program Manager, emphasized the sacred and irreplaceable nature of the rock image sites: "The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is disheartened to learn of the vandalism to the rock image monument at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam. The CTUIR considers rock image sites to be sacred and irreplaceable. The images documented our tribal history through the Creator's own stories. The ancestors who created the images on this monument did so hundreds of years ago. It was being preserved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for all to visit and see. Spray paint is one of the hardest things to remove from rock images and is never fully restored. This monument is important to the CTUIR and neighboring tribes and should be important to everyone else as a treasure of the history of the United States of America."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and law enforcement are currently investigating the vandalism, calling for public support and cooperation as they work to preserve the integrity and significance of Indian Memorial Park.