Notice2024-11449
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA
Primary source
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Published
May 24, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University (WWU) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 102 (Friday, May 24, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 102 (Friday, May 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45920-45921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11449]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037978; 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 (WWU)
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition
of unassociated funerary objects 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 June 24, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department
of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA
98225, telephone (360) 650-4783, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fa8a93949f90ba8d8d8fd49f9e8f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="23534a4d4649635454560d464756">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 nine cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The nine unassociated funerary objects are level bags
(lots) containing non-human mammal, bird and fish bones from five
different units. These are newly identified as unassociated funerary
objects because of consultation with the Swinomish Indian Tribal
Community in January of 2024. No hazardous chemicals are known to have
been used to treat the unassociated funerary objects while in the
custody of WWU.
The site 45-SK-35 is located near the Skagit River, on the
southwestern end of Pleasant Ridge, on an alluvial flat at the base of
a hill. This site is part of the Swikwikwab complex. Western Washington
State College conducted a field school excavation, led by Herbert C.
Taylor, on July 2, 1960. Additional research identified the 45-SK-35 as
a cemetery site and included in the National Register of Historic
Places. In 1960, remains representing at minimum three individuals were
removed from the Dunlap/Sedro Wooley [Woolley] Site (45-SK-35) during a
University of Washington Field School. In 2023, human skeletal remains
were found during excavations for a culvert (HR23-00055).
The unassociated funerary objects have been determined to be Native
American based on ethnographic, geographic, and archeological evidence.
Comparison of the location of site 45-SK-35 with Suttles and Lane's map
indicates that it is in an area associated with Nookachamps, Kikiallus,
and Swinomish (Suttles and Lane 1990, Handbook of North American
Indians, Volume 7, Northwest Coast: Figure 1). Many descendants of
these cultural entities are today associated with the Swinomish Indian
Tribal Community, as confirmed through consultation.
Determinations
The WWU has determined that:
<bullet> The nine unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the human remains
and associated funerary objects described in this notice 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 June 24, 2024. 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.
[[Page 45921]]
Dated: May 15, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-11449 Filed 5-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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