Washington State Parks to Repatriate Native Remains from Park Upgrades
Published Date: 12/18/2025
Notice
Summary
Washington State Parks has finished checking and listing ancient human remains and artifacts found during construction work. They’ve confirmed these remains belong to Native American tribes and are ready to return them starting January 20, 2026. This means tribes can now ask to have their ancestors’ remains and belongings respectfully sent back.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Inventory Found Six Individuals, 65,502 Objects
Washington State Parks found human remains representing at least six individuals and identified 65,502 associated funerary objects (including shell, bone, stone tools, ochre, charcoal, and botanical material) from site 45-IS-2. The materials were recovered during work between 2000 and 2008 and State Parks determined they are of Native American ancestry.
Repatriation Authorized Starting January 20, 2026
State Parks says repatriation of these human remains and 65,502 associated funerary objects may occur on or after January 20, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to the named State Parks representative at the listed PO Box in Olympia, WA or the provided email address.
Who May Request Repatriation and How Conflicts Are Resolved
The notice says the Sauk-Suiattle, Stillaguamish, Swinomish, Tulalip, and Upper Skagit tribes are identified as culturally affiliated and may request repatriation. It also allows any lineal descendant or other tribe/Native Hawaiian organization to request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are affiliated; if there are competing requests, State Parks will decide the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests count as a single request.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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