[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 218 (Friday, November 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58650-58651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27237]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Riverside Metropolitan Museum, 
Riverside, 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 and associated funerary 
objects in the possession and control of the Riverside Metropolitan 
Museum, Riverside, CA. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Sacramento 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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Riverside Metropolitan Museum professional staff in consultation with 
the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-wuk Indians of California; California 
Valley Miwok Tribe, California (formerly the Sheep Ranch 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; Shingle Springs Band 
of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; 
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of 
California; and United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria 
of California.
    In 1933, human remains representing a minimum of 27 individuals 
were removed from the Augustine Mound, in the Cosumnes River area, 
south of Elk Grove, Sacramento County, CA, during excavations by Dr. 
Paul Walker in association with the Sacramento City College. Walker's 
widow, Bessie Walker, donated the human remains to the Riverside 
Metropolitan Museum in 1959. No known individuals were identified. The 
29 associated funerary objects are 1 lot of glass beads, 1 lot of stone 
and bone objects, 3 antler flaking tools, 1 deer scapula saw, 1 bone 
scraper, 1 bone fish hook, 4 bone awls, 4 bone earlobe tubes, 1 
steatite awl fragment, 1 stone polisher, 1 lot of clay objects, 1 stone 
pestle, 2 projectile points, 2 obsidian tools, 1 lot of obsidian 
lithics, 1 lot of shell pieces, 1 lot of shell beads, 1 lot of 
carbonized textiles, and 1 brass button.
    Traditionally, the Plains Miwok occupied an area that included the 
lower reaches of the Mokelumne and Cosumnes Rivers, and both banks of 
the Sacramento River from Rio Vista to Freeport (Handbook of North 
American Indians, Vol. 8, 1978), which includes the Augustine Mound. 
The Plains Miwok are represented today by the Buena Vista Band of Me-
Wuk Indians and the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. Consultation evidence 
provided by the Ione Band of Miwok links them prehistorically to the 
Slough House, Cosumnes River area. Moreover, many Base Roll Members of 
the Ione Band of Miwok served as informants for the Augustine Mound 
site. The Camellia Cemetery on Jackson Highway 16, where the human 
remains and associated funerary objects will be repatriated, is six 
miles from Slough House, where the human remains and associated 
funerary objects originated. Based on ethnography and consultation with 
the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California, it has been determined 
that Slough House in the Cosumnes River area, south of Elk Grove, CA, 
is within the historically documented territory of the Plains Miwok.
    Officials of the Riverside Metropolitan Museum have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 27 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Riverside Metropolitan 
Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), 
the 29 objects described above are reasonably believed to have been 
placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or 
later as part of the death rite or ceremony. Officials of the Riverside 
Metropolitan Museum 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 
associated funerary objects and the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-wuk 
Indians of California and the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California. 
Lastly, officials of the Riverside Metropolitan Museum have determined 
that there is a preponderance of the evidence in favor of the Ione Band 
of Miwok Indians of California's claim.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and

[[Page 58651]]

associated funerary objects should contact Ennette Morton, Museum 
Director, Riverside Metropolitan Museum, 3580 Mission Inn Avenue, 
Riverside, CA 92501, telephone (951) 826-5128, before December 14, 
2009. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Riverside Metropolitan Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-wuk Indians of California; California 
Valley Miwok Tribe, 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; Shingle Springs Band 
of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), 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: October 15, 2009.
Richard C. Waldbauer,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-27237 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S