[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41284-41285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18346]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0023998; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, Phoenix, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, 
Tonto National Forest, has completed an inventory of unassociated 
funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a 
cultural affiliation between the unassociated 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 cultural items should submit a written 
request to the Tonto National Forest. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the unassociated 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 cultural items should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the Tonto 
National Forest at the address in this notice by September 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Neil Bosworth, Tonto National Forest, 2324 East McDowell 
Road, Phoenix, AZ 85206, telephone (602) 225-5201, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the Tonto

[[Page 41285]]

National Forest, Phoenix, AZ, that meet the definition of unassociated 
funerary 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 
unassociated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Prior to 1990, 11 unassociated funerary objects were removed from 
Six Shooter Canyon in Gila County, AZ. The unassociated funerary 
objects were donated to the Grand Canyon Museum and then transferred to 
the Tonto National Forest on December 29, 2016. The 11 unassociated 
funerary objects are three shell bracelets, three shell rings, and five 
turquoise tessera pieces. A detailed assessment of the unassociated 
funerary objects was made by the Tonto National Forest professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Salt River Pima-
Maricopa Indian Community, who submitted a repatriation claim for the 
cultural items.
    In accordance with the Plan for the Treatment and Disposition of 
Human Remains and Other Cultural Items from the Tonto National Forest 
Pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act 
(as revised in 2001), it has been determined that the primary cultural 
affiliation of these unassociated funerary objects is with the Ak-Chin 
Indian Community (previously listed as the Ak Chin Indian Community of 
the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

Determinations Made by the USDA, Forest Service, Tonto National Forest

    Officials of the Tonto National Forest have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 11 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 
unassociated funerary objects and the Ak-Chin Indian Community 
(previously listed as the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak 
Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Gila River Indian Community of the 
Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian 
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono 
O'odham Nation of Arizona.

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 unassociated funerary objects 
should submit a written request with information in support of the 
request to Neil Bosworth, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E McDowell Road, 
Phoenix, AZ 85206, telephone (602) 225-5201, email [email protected], 
by September 29, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors 
have come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary 
objects to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt 
River Reservation, Arizona, may proceed.
    The Tonto National Forest is responsible for notifying the Ak-Chin 
Indian Community (previously listed as the Ak Chin Indian Community of 
the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); Gila River Indian 
Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Salt River 
Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; 
and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 14, 2017.
Sarah Glass,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-18346 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P