Notice2026-07376
Notice of Inventory Completion: Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Eastern Washington University has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20490-20491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07376]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7088; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042609; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Eastern Washington University,
Cheney, 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 Eastern Washington University has
completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after May 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Kate Valdez, NAGPRA Coordinator, Eastern Washington
University, 214 Showalter Hall, Cheney, WA 99004, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec9a9a8d80888996daac899b99c2898899"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87f1f1e6ebe3e2fdb1c7e2f0f2a9e2e3f2">[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
Eastern Washington University, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, two individuals has been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed
from Pierce County, WA. In 1959, human remains representing one
individual were removed from the property of Mr. M.V. Petersen during
an excavation of Mr. Petersen's basement by Mr. James C. Garner and Mr.
Butler. In 1974, the Burke Museum legally transferred portions of the
human remains to Seattle University. Sometime in the early 1990s, these
human remains were transferred to the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, then subsequently transferred in 1992 to Eastern
Washington University for identification. No known individuals were
identified.
Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed
from King County, WA. In 1930, human remains representing one
individual were removed Three Tree Point, King County, WA by Mr. Robert
Higgins. The remains were collected by Erna Gunther Spier as part of a
Washington State Museum field expedition. No known individuals were
identified. In 1974, the Burke Museum legally transferred portions of
the human remains to Seattle University. Sometime in the early 1990s,
these human remains were transferred to the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, then subsequently transferred in 1992 to Eastern
Washington University for identification.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this
notice.
Determinations
The Eastern Washington University has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice
[[Page 20491]]
and the Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after May 18, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Eastern Washington University must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a
single request and not competing requests. The Eastern Washington
Universityis responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice and any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: April 8, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07376 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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