Notice2026-05046
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
Primary source
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Published
March 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Western Washington University 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12616-12617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05046]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6987; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042308; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Western Washington
University, 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs and Western Washington University 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 April 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Tamara Billie, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Mailbox 44, Albuquerque, NM 87104,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b7f6a666a796a2569626767626e4b69626a256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f286939f938093dc909b9e9e9b97b2909b93dc959d84">[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
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 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 330 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 330 objects of cultural patrimony comprise precontact lithics,
historic items, mammal, fish, and bird bones, shell, charcoal, pebbles,
and associated sediment. In 1954, Dr. Herbert Taylor of Western
Washington University (WWU) and field school students conducted
excavations on Squaxin Island. Taylor's field notes from this work
indicate that Sites #1, #4, and #9 were identified. These may
correspond to recorded archaeological sites 45-MA-37 and/or 45-MA-54
(Taylor 1956, Anthropological Investigation of the
[[Page 12617]]
Medicine Creek Tribes Relative to Tribal Identity and Aboriginal
Possession of Lands, Docket No. 234, De. Ex. 129). No hazardous
chemicals are known to have been used to treat these items while in the
custody of WWU.
Determinations
The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, has
determined that:
<bullet> The 330 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.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island
Reservation.
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 April 15, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs 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 U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 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: March 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05046 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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