ASTORIA, Ore. — Washington State and tribal officials are investigating after the Pacific County Public Utilities District dug in an area that is known as a Chinook Indian burial site.
The Daily Astorian reported that the utility district replaced two failing power poles inside Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. The site of the poles was once a Chinook trade village and is known to have Native and European artifacts.
Park service officials said they don’t even pull weeds to avoid disturbing the ground in the area.
Park Superintendent Scott Tucker said the utility district did not contact the Chinook Indian Nation or the National Park Service before doing the work.
Utility district officials said the poles were going to fall and they didn’t have time to call for approval.
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