Notice of Intended Repatriation: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA, 100531 [2024-29255]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 100531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29255]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039179; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Western Washington University, 
Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University, 
Department of Anthropology (WWU), intends to repatriate certain 
cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural 
patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after January 13, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department 
of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 
98225, telephone (360) 650-4783, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
WWU, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, 
including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or 
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of five cultural items have been requested for 
repatriation.
    The four objects of cultural patrimony are one net weight, one 
ground shell, one incised stone, and one adze blade. In 1982, Western 
Washington University entered a contract with the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs to conduct a cultural resource survey of selected portions of 
the Swinomish Indian Reservation, Skagit County, Washington. Both 
sites, 45-SK-32 and 45-SK-91, are located adjacent to the Swinomish 
Slough within the boundaries of the Swinomish Reservation. Materials 
were collected by excavation of four 1x2 meter test cuts (Chesmore 
1984, A Cultural Resource Survey and Test Excavations of Selected 
Portions of the Swinomish Indian Reservation, Skagit County, 
Washington, Contract No. 2P10-0100515 with the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Reports in Archaeology No. 22, Department of Anthropology, 
Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington).
    The one object of cultural patrimony is a worked bone point. The 
materials described in this notice were collected in the spring of 2003 
as part of a collaborative effort between Dr. Sarah Campbell and field 
school students from WWU, Equinox Research and Consulting 
International, Inc. (ERCI) and the Samish Indian Nation to mitigate 
erosion of a cut bank on Weaverling Spit. An area approximately 150 m 
long between a jetty for a private residence and a field south of the 
Cove at Fidalgo Condominium property was examined. The crew excavated 
eight shovel tests, faced, and profiled the bank in six locations and 
collected column samples from two locations. During this work, two 
burials were observed eroding out of the bank in front of the 
condominiums. Human remains were also observed and collected beneath 
the bank on the beach. All these remains were repatriated to the Samish 
Indian Nation (Nelson, 2006).
    No hazardous chemicals are known to have been used to treat the 
items while in the custody of WWU.

Determinations

    The WWU has determined that:
     The five objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other 
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of 
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Samish Indian Nation and the 
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after January 13, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the WWU must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
cultural items are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. The WWU is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to 
the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this 
notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: December 4, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-29255 Filed 12-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P