4312-52
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038206; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, Department of
Anthropology, Bellingham, WA
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-29 in Whatcom County, WA.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may
occur on or after [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE
FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology,
Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, telephone (360) 650–4783, email
pinej@wwu.edu.
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 minimum, two individuals were removed from Whatcom
County, WA. Students from WWU worked at site 45-WH-29 under the direction of WWU

professor Dr. Garland Grabert in the fall of 1970 and the spring of 1971. Initially focusing on an
adjacent site 45-WH-11, additional fieldwork occurred at 45-WH-29 when human remains were
observed eroding out of a nearby bluff. Notes indicate surface collection was conducted. A total
of six associated funerary objects are present (three lots and three objects). The six associated
funerary objects consist of one lot fire broken rock, one lot charcoal, one lot level bag with lithics
and bone, one sandstone abrader, one bone point, and one barbed harpoon point.
A minimum of one individual was reported in the original NAGPRA Inventory in 1995;
one subadult (estimated at 9-10 years (surface collected)). During the WWU 2018-2020
Repatriation and Rehousing Project, additional ancestral remains were found in the “faunal” bags
from 1970-71, and three additional associated funerary objects were identified by Cultural
Specialist, R. Tom. The newly identified remains likely represent one adult individual. The
original NAGPRA Inventory represents a subadult, but the newly identified remains are those of
an adult. Therefore, we are considering this to be an additional individual. 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 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 two
individuals of Native American ancestry.

•

A total of six associated funerary objects are reasonably believed to have been placed
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 of the Lummi Reservation and the

Nooksack Indian Tribe.
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 [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF
PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 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: June 24, 2024.

Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-14467 Filed: 6/28/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/1/2024]