[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92967-92968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27498]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

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


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Western Washington University, 
Department of Anthropology, 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 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 (360) 650-4783, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The

[[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.
[FR Doc. 2024-27498 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
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