Western Washington University Returns Massive 12,500-Item Haul
Published Date: 2/11/2026
Notice
Summary
Western Washington University plans to return over 12,500 sacred Native American items from the Woodhaven Olcott archaeological site to the affiliated tribes starting March 13, 2026. These important cultural objects, like stone tools and flakes, were found in Snohomish County and are being respectfully repatriated with no cost to tribes. This move honors Native heritage and follows federal law to give these treasures back to their rightful communities.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
12,556 Sacred Items Returned to Tribes
Western Washington University plans to return 12,556 sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony from the Woodhaven Olcott Collection to affiliated tribes on or after March 13, 2026. The items (lithic bifaces, scrapers, choppers, hammerstones, adzes, cores, flakes, and debitage) were recovered from site 45SN417 in Snohomish County and are culturally affiliated with the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians of Washington, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington.
Who Can Request Repatriation and How
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or are culturally affiliated. Repatriation to a requestor may occur on or after March 13, 2026; if competing requests are received, WWUAR must determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
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