2024-17262. Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038402; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Western Washington University (WWU) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 45-WH-564, Point Roberts, Whatcom County, WA.

DATES:

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after September 5, 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 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 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 have been identified. The 21 associated funerary objects are stone, bone and antler tools and carved items, and ochre stained stone. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 45-WH-564, Point Roberts, Whatcom County, WA.

This collection was donated to WWU circa 1989 by Cliff, Art, and Ruth Jorgenson (handwritten note by Sarah Campbell). The sparse notes indicate that either Cliff or Art was a backhoe operator and that the human remains and artifacts were collected in the 1950s and 1960s during construction of the Whalen Development. This is also referred to as Whalen Point and the Whalen Site.

The 1995 WWU NAGPRA Inventory reported a possible MNI of two-to-four individuals. During the WWU 2018-2020 Repatriation and Rehousing Project, the minimum number of individuals was determined to be two. Also, during tribal consultation in 2024, Lummi Nation Cultural Specialist, Ralph Tom, newly identified 21 associated funerary objects. No known individuals were identified. No hazardous chemicals are known to have been used to treat the human remains or associated funerary objects while in the custody of WWU.

The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The following types of information were used to reasonably trace the relationship: anthropological information, archaeological information, geographical information, historical information, and oral tradition.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The WWU has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of at least two individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 21 objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Lummi Tribe for the Lummi Reservation; Nooksack Indian Tribe; and the Samish Indian Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 5, 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 human remains and associated funerary objects 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.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

Dated: July 26, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.