[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 56488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19264]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of the Pacific, 
Stockton, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of 
University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA. The human remains were removed 
from San Joaquin County, CA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by University 
of the Pacific professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California.
    In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the campus of University of the Pacific in San 
Joaquin County, CA, by unknown persons during the construction of a 
parking lot. The remains were turned over to the university 
administration anonymously late in 1990, and a consultant was engaged 
to conduct a forensic analysis. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The book Archeology of the Northern San Joaquin Valley (Schenk and 
Dawson, 1929) identifies a site on the campus of College of the Pacific 
containing indigenous remains. Another document of unknown provenance 
states that two ``graduate students in anthropology from Sacramento 
State College examined the site and judged the bones to be of the Miwok 
or Yokut Indian Tribes and about 300 years old.'' Consultation with Mr. 
Lalo Franco of the cultural office of the Santa Rosa Indian Community 
of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, confirmed that the provenience 
of the human remains is consistent with that of other discoveries of 
indigenous remains in the area. Mr. Franco consulted with 
representatives of other tribal entities who serve on a regional 
committee coordinating the repatriation of indigenous remains and 
artifacts, and it was determined by them that the Santa Rosa Indian 
Community would receive the remains from University of the Pacific and 
hold them until such time as the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of 
California can complete preparations to receive them on a permanent 
basis.
    Officials of the University of the Pacific have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the University of the Pacific also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the Native American human remains and the Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California and the Ione Band of 
Miwok Indians of California.
    The human remains were repatriated to NAGPRA representatives of the 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California on 
August 4, 2005, on behalf of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of 
California. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that wishes to 
comment on this repatriation should contact Michael Capurso, University 
of the Pacific, Gladys L. Benerd School of Education, 3601 Pacific 
Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211, telephone (209) 946-2287.
    The University of the Pacific is responsible for notifying the 
Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-wuk Indians of California; Chicken Ranch 
Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians 
of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Shingle 
Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona 
Tract), California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River 
Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California; Tuolumne Band 
of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California; and United 
Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 30, 2005.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-19264 Filed 9-26-05; 8:45 am]
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