[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39640-39641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10157]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037882; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, 
Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento 
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition 
of sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a 
cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after June 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Mark Wheeler, Senior Advisor to President Luke Wood, 
California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 
95819, telephone (916) 460-0490, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
California State University, Sacramento, and additional information on 
the determinations in this notice, including the results of 
consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of 311 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
    In 1964-71, Stephen Humphreys, a student at Sacramento State 
College, conducted extensive surveys and excavations in the region 
between Oroville and Paradise in Butte County, California. Humphries 
surfaced collected from CA-BUT-60 (Vine Rockshelter), BUT-61 (Bow Shaft 
Rockshelter), BUT-303 (Gold Flat #1), and BUT-304 (Gold Flat #2). The 
15 objects of cultural patrimony from BUT-60 are flaked stone tools and 
a steatite vessel. The three sacred objects are perishable botanical 
remains. The 69 objects of cultural patrimony from CA-BUT-61 are flaked 
and modified stone objects; the 53 sacred objects are pigment, worked 
wood and bone objects, glass and shell beads, crystals, and animal 
remains. The 171 objects of cultural patrimony from BUT-303/304 are 
modified stone, ground stone, flaked stone, unmodified stone, and 
animal remains. An unknown number of objects may be missing from the 
collection, and California State University, Sacramento continues to 
look for them.

Determinations

    The California State University, Sacramento has determined that:
     The 56 sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
     The 255 objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other 
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of 
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico 
Rancheria, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this

[[Page 39641]]

notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this 
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by 
any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally 
affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after June 10, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the California State University, Sacramento 
must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The California State 
University, Sacramento is responsible for sending a copy of this notice 
to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in 
this notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: April 30, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-10157 Filed 5-8-24; 8:45 am]
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