[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 24196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08603]



[[Page 24196]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033740; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, 
Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, 
has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request to the Western Washington University, Department of 
Anthropology. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, 
or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology at the 
address in this notice by May 23, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Sarah Campbell, Western Washington 
University, Department of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 315, 516 High 
Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, telephone (360) 650-4793, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains under 
the control of the Western Washington University, Department of 
Anthropology, Bellingham, WA. The human remains were removed from 
archeological site 45-SK-37, east of Dry Slough on Fir Island, Skagit 
County, WA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Western 
Washington University, Department of Anthropology professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Swinomish Indian Tribal 
Community [previously listed as the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation of Washington].

History and Description of the Remains

    On May 7, 1960, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from site 45-SK-37 in Skagit County, WA, by 
faculty member Herbert C. Taylor. Taylor was supervising a field school 
excavation for Western Washington State College, now known as Western 
Washington University. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains have been determined to be Native American based 
on ethnographic, geographic, and archeological evidence. Suttles and 
Lane's ethnography of the Southern Coast Salish is particularly 
relevant, as it contains a map featuring some of the larger villages in 
the region (Suttles and Lane, 1990: Figure 1). Comparison of the 
location of site 45-SK-37 with Suttles and Lane's map indicates that it 
is in an area associated with Nookachamps, Kikiallus, and Swinomish. 
Many descendants of these cultural entities are today associated with 
the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community [previously listed as the 
Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of Washington].

Determinations Made by Western Washington University, Department of 
Anthropology

    Officials of Western Washington University, Department of 
Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community 
[previously listed as the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation of Washington].

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. Sarah 
Campbell, Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, 
Arntzen Hall 315, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, telephone 
(360) 650-4793, email [email protected], by May 23, 2022. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community 
[previously listed as the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation of Washington] may proceed.
    The Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology is 
responsible for notifying the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community 
[previously listed as the Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish 
Reservation of Washington] that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 13, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-08603 Filed 4-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P