[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34127-34128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13469]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-12964; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Coachella Valley History Museum, 
Indio, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coachella Valley History Museum has completed an inventory 
of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives 
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in 
this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request 
to the Coachella Valley History Museum. If no additional requestors 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Coachella Valley History Museum at the 
address in this notice by July 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Erica M. Ward, Coachella Valley History Museum, 82-616 Miles 
Avenue, Indio, CA 92201, telephone (760) 342-6651, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the control of the Coachella Valley 
History Museum, Indio, CA. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Salton Sea area, Imperial 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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Coachella Valley History Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, California 
(previously listed as the Torres-Martinez Band of Cahuilla Mission 
Indians of California).

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime between 1930 and 1945, human remains representing, at 
minimum, four individuals were removed from the Salton Sea area in 
Imperial County, CA, by Mr. and Mrs. Homer Sherrod. In 1984, Mr. and 
Mrs. Homer Sherrod donated a large collection of items, including the 
human remains and associated funerary objects, to the Coachella Valley 
Historical Society. No known individuals were identified. The four 
associated funerary objects include 1 lot of charred animal bones, 1 
lot of multiple pieces of charred basketry, 1 lot of multiple pieces of 
charred beads, and 1 lot of multiple pieces of charred cordage and 
charred residue.
    The human remains and associated funerary items have been 
determined to be prehistoric. Based on a geographic affiliation and 
consultation, the Coachella Valley History Museum has determined a 
cultural affiliation between these human remains and associated 
funerary objects and the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, 
California (previously listed as the Torres-Martinez Band of Cahuilla 
Mission Indians of California).

Determinations Made by the Coachella Valley History Museum

    Officials of the Coachella Valley History Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice

[[Page 34128]]

represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native American 
ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the four objects 
described in this notice 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.
     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 Torres 
Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, California (previously listed as the 
Torres-Martinez Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of California).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Erica M. Ward, Coachella Valley History 
Museum, 82-616 Miles Avenue, Indio, CA 92201, telephone (760) 342-6651, 
email [email protected], by July 8, 2013. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to Torres Martinez Desert 
Cahuilla Indians, California (previously listed as the Torres-Martinez 
Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of California) may proceed.
    The Coachella Valley History Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, California (previously 
listed as the Torres-Martinez Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians of 
California) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 30, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-13469 Filed 6-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P