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

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, one individual have been identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Representatives from Western Washington University worked at 45-WH-17 in both 1973 and 1977. Dr. Garland Grabert directed a summer field school at the site in 1973. In 1977, Western Washington University entered a contract (C530-695-02) with the city of Blaine, WA, to conduct salvage in conjunction with the construction of the sewage treatment facility. Operations began in June and continued through the end of August 1977. One burial was recovered at 45-WH-17 in 1973 and a total of 40 burials were recovered during the 1977 project. All the known burials and associated funerary objects in the WWU collections from the 1973 and 1977 work were repatriated to the Lummi Nation in the early 1980's.

During the WWU NAGPRA compliance efforts in 1995, closer examination of faunal remains from 45-WH-17 resulted in numerous additional fragments of human bone being recognized. These human remains were listed in the original 1995 WWU NAGPRA Inventory and they, too, were repatriated to the Lummi Nation, upon their request in 2001. During the recent rehousing project described above, one additional human remain was identified from the 45-WH-17 collection and it is described below. No known individuals were identified. No hazardous chemicals are known to have been used to treat the human remains while in the custody of WWU.

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 described in this notice.

Determinations

The WWU has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

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 November 14, 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 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.

[FR Doc. 2024-23721 Filed 10-11-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P