[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 58620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23690]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: San Diego 
Archaeological Center, San Diego, 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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, San Diego, CA, that meet the definition of 
``sacred objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    In 1978, a steatite sucking tube was removed from archeological 
site W-569 in San Diego County, CA, as part of an archeological 
excavation performed in compliance with the California Environmental 
Quality Act (CEQA). This site is located in the west part of San Diego 
County in the City of Oceanside, which is adjacent to Rancho Guajome. 
On June 29, 2007, the collection was accessioned by the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, and assessed for objects eligible for 
repatriation in accordance with NAGPRA.
    The archeological site W-569 falls within traditional Luiseno 
territory, and the reporting archeologists determined it to be of the 
Late Holocene, Late Milling Period, which has been associated with the 
cultural antecedents of the Luiseno Nation in the region. Steatite 
sucking tubes are known to be used by the Luiseno in sacred rites.
    In 1989, cultural items were removed from archeological site CA-
SDI-11,068A in San Diego County, CA, as part of an archeological 
excavation performed in compliance with the California Environmental 
Quality Act (CEQA). This site is located in the northern part of San 
Diego County in the City of San Marcos, adjacent to Twin Oaks Valley. 
On May 10, 2006, the collection was accessioned by the San Diego 
Archaeological Center, and assessed for objects eligible for 
repatriation in accordance with NAGPRA. The cultural items are known to 
be used by the Luiseno in sacred rites and were removed from Luiseno 
traditional territory. The 66 sacred objects are 45 pieces of ochre, 1 
piece of hematite, 2 quartz crystals, 3 tourmaline crystals, 10 effigy 
fragments, 4 ceramic pipe fragments, and 1 raptor talon.
    The Luiseno Nation is represented by the La Jolla Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the La Jolla Reservation, California; Pala Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band 
of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, 
California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga 
Reservation, California; Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
Rincon Reservation, California; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, 
California; Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
California; and San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, a non-federally 
recognized Indian group.
    Officials of the San Diego Archaeological Center have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the 67 cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents. Officials of 
the San Diego Archaeological Center 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 Luiseno Nation, which is 
represented by the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the La 
Jolla Reservation, California; Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
the Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians 
of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California; Rincon Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Rincon Reservation, California; Soboba 
Band of Luiseno Indians, California; Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of California; and San Luis Rey Band of Mission 
Indians, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects should contact Cindy 
Stankowski, San Diego Archaeological Center, 16666 San Pasqual Valley 
Road, Escondido, CA 92027-7001, telephone (760) 291-0370, before 
November 6, 2008. Repatriation of the sacred objects to the Luiseno 
Nation, which is represented by the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission 
Indians of the La Jolla Reservation, California; Pala Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; 
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, 
California; Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Rincon 
Reservation, California; Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, California; 
Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of California; and 
San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group, may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The San Diego Archaeological Center is responsible for notifying 
the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the La Jolla 
Reservation, California; Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the 
Pala Reservation, California; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of 
the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California; Rincon Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Rincon Reservation, California; Soboba 
Band of Luiseno Indians, California; and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of California; and San Luis Rey Band of Mission 
Indians, a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: September 12, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-23690 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
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