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Notice of Intended Repatriation: Interior Dept, BIA, Western Washington University

FR: National Park Service

Published March 16th, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, has published a notice of intended repatriation concerning cultural items held by Western Washington University. This notice initiates a process that may lead to the return of these items to their affiliated tribes.

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What changed

This notice from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, formally announces the intent to repatriate specific cultural items currently held by Western Washington University. The notice, published in the Federal Register, serves as a public declaration and initiates a period during which repatriation may occur.

Regulated entities, particularly educational institutions and government agencies that may hold or interact with cultural items, should be aware of this process. While this specific notice pertains to a particular set of items and institutions, it highlights ongoing repatriation efforts under relevant laws. No immediate action is required for entities not involved in this specific repatriation, but it underscores the importance of understanding and complying with NAGPRA and related cultural heritage regulations.

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Notice

Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

A Notice by the National Park Service on 03/16/2026

Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior National Park Service Agency/Docket Numbers N6987 NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042308 PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000 Document Citation 91 FR 12616 Document Number 2026-05046 Document Type Notice Pages 12616-12617
(2 pages) Publication Date 03/16/2026 Published Content - Document Details
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Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior National Park Service Agency/Docket Numbers N6987 NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042308 PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000 Document Citation 91 FR 12616 Document Number 2026-05046 Document Type Notice Pages 12616-12617
(2 pages) Publication Date 03/16/2026 Published Content - Document Details
Document Dates Published Content - Document Dates Dates Text Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after April 15, 2026. Published Content - Document Dates
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- AGENCY:
- ACTION:
- SUMMARY:
- DATES:
- ADDRESSES:
- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
- Abstract of Information Available
- Determinations
- Requests for Repatriation Enhanced Content - Table of Contents
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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

[N6987; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042308; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Western Washington University 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 April 15, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Tamara Billie, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Mailbox 44, Albuquerque, NM 87104, email tamara.billie@bia.gov.

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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 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 330 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 330 objects of cultural patrimony comprise precontact lithics, historic items, mammal, fish, and bird bones, shell, charcoal, pebbles, and associated sediment. In 1954, Dr. Herbert Taylor of Western Washington University (WWU) and field school students conducted excavations on Squaxin Island. Taylor's field notes from this work indicate that Sites #1, #4, and #9 were identified. These may correspond to recorded archaeological sites 45-MA-37 and/or 45-MA-54 (Taylor 1956, Anthropological Investigation of the ( printed page 12617) Medicine Creek Tribes Relative to Tribal Identity and Aboriginal Possession of Lands, Docket No. 234, De. Ex. 129). No hazardous chemicals are known to have been used to treat these items while in the custody of WWU.

Determinations

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, has determined that:

The 330 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 connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation.

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 April 15, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 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: March 5, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-05046 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-05046 (91 FR 12616)

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Source

FR: National Park Service federalregister.gov/documents/search?conditions%5Bagencies%5D%5B%5D=national-park-service&order=newest

Federal Regulation

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Classification

Agency

Office of the Federal Register

Published

March 16th, 2026

Compliance deadline

April 15th, 2026 (31 days)

Instrument

Notice

Legal weight

Non-binding

Stage

Final

Change scope

Minor

Who this affects

Applies to

Educational institutions Government agencies

Geographic scope

National (US)

Taxonomy

Primary area

Cultural Heritage

Operational domain

Compliance

Topics

NAGPRA Tribal Relations

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Notice of Intended Repatriation: Interior Dept, BIA, Western Washington University

Summary

What changed

Source document (simplified)

Notice

Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Enhanced Content - Related Documents

- Sharing Enhanced Content - Sharing Shorter Document URL https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-05046 Email Email this document to a friend Enhanced Content - Sharing

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

AGENCY:

ACTION:

SUMMARY:

DATES:

ADDRESSES:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract of Information Available

Determinations

Requests for Repatriation

Related changes

Source

Classification

Who this affects

Taxonomy

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