[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31092-31093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13840]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028124; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Autry Museum of the American 
West, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Autry Museum of the American West has completed an 
inventory of human remains, 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 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 should submit a written request to the Autry Museum 
of the American West. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the Autry 
Museum of the American West at the address in this notice by July 29, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Lylliam Posadas, MSc, Repatriation and Community Research 
Manager, Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, 
Los Angeles, CA 90027, telephone (323) 495-4369, 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 under 
the control of the Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, CA. 
The human remains were removed from San Nicolas Island, Ventura, 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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Autry 
Museum of the American West professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the 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; and the Santa 
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, 
California; hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes.''
    The Autry Museum of the American West professional staff consulted 
with the following non-federally recognized Indian groups: Gabrielino/
Tongva Indians of California; Gabrielino/Tongva Nation; Gabrielino/
Tongva Tribal Council; San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians; Ti'at 
Society; and the Traditional Council of Pimu (hereafter referred to as 
``Gabrielino/Tongva'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1931, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were donated by Susannah Margaret Doran Nix to the Southwest Museum of 
the American Indian, now the Southwest Museum of the American Indian 
Collection at the Autry Museum of the American West. The human remains 
consist of a complete cranium and mandible, and are likely female. This 
individual was removed from the surface of San Nicolas Island in 
Ventura, CA, by Edmond Leonard Doran in 1900; specific provenience 
information was not documented. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    An examination of the human remains by Autry Museum of the American 
West professional staff osteologists determined that this

[[Page 31093]]

individual is Native American. The Tribes shared oral history tracing 
their ancestry to the people of the Channel Islands. In addition, the 
archeological and ethnohistorical literature demonstrate ancestral 
connections between the Chumash, who inhabited the Northern Channel 
Islands, and San Nicholas Island. Also, the ethnographic literature 
documents the presence of Luiseno people in the Southern Channel 
Islands, including San Nicholas Island. On San Nicholas Island, the 
Tribes would have interacted with the Gabrielino/Tongva.

Determinations Made by the Autry Museum of the American West

    Officials of the Autry Museum of the American West have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 Tribes.

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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Lylliam 
Posadas, Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, 
Los Angeles, CA 90027, telephone (323) 495-4369, email 
[email protected], by July 29, 2019. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Autry Museum of the American West is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 5, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-13840 Filed 6-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P