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Repatriations | Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe

On October 24, 2000 the Museum repatriated two human remains to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe of Sequim, Washington, the Port Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, and the Lower Elwha Tribal Community of the lower Elwha Reservation.

At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were removed from Puget Sound, WA by Dr. David U. Egbert. In 1870 these human remains were donated to the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia. Based on the original accession information from the Wistar Institute, this individual was determined to be S'Klallam. The northwestern region of Puget Sound, which extends to the Dungeness River mouth, incorporates the traditional territory of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Reservation.

In 1856, human remains representing a second individual were removed from Puget Sound, WA by an unknown individual and donated to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. In 1997, the control of these human remains were transferred to the University of Pennsylvania Museum.

These remains were claimed by the tribes in May of 1998, and approved for repatriation by the Museum in July of 1998. In June of 2000 the tribes received a NAGPRA grant through the National Park Service that enabled a delegation of representatives to travel to Philadelphia to complete the repatriation and to review other collections of interest in the Museum. Upon receiving the remains, the tribal representatives conducted a brief ceremony on the grounds of the Museum. Throughout the repatriation process the Museum worked primarily with the S’Klallam Cultural Coordinator and representative of the Port Gamble and Lower Elwha communities.

Notice of Inventory Completion