2024-27498. Notice of Intended Repatriation: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039095; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 December 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The ( print page 92968) 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 seven cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The seven objects of cultural patrimony are a honing stone, a sandstone abrader, a barbed bone harpoon point, two incised silt stones, a stone bowl, and an agate projectile point.

The materials described in this notice were collected in 1975 by R. L. Logsdon of Western Washington University through non-systematic surface collection and excavation of two 1x3 meter test cuts. This work was part of a subcontract with Washington Archaeological Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, under contract with Bonneville Power Administration (Logsdon, 1975, “A Report of Archaeological Investigations: San Juan County Site 45-SJ-169, Decatur Island, 1975, Reports in Archaeology No.1, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Western Washington State College, Bellingham, Washington”).

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 seven 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 Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation; 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 December 26, 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.

Dated: November 18, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.