[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 58409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15834]



[[Page 58409]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038289; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of Us, San Diego, 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 Museum of Us intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 August 19, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Carmen Mosley, NAGPRA Repatriation Manager, Museum of Us, 
1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, telephone (619) 239-
2001 Ext. 42, 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 
Museum of Us, 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 176 cultural items from five sites have been requested 
for repatriation. One object of cultural patrimony removed from Flint 
Mound (CV-17; CA-SAC-115) in lower Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA, 
includes one baked clay effigy. One object of cultural patrimony 
removed from Tamien Village Site (CV-21) in northern Sacramento, 
Sacramento County, CA, includes one string of stone disc beads. The 13 
objects of cultural patrimony removed from Easter Mound (CV-23) near 
Elk Grove, Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA, includes one small set of 
disc beads, one set of Olivella beads, five Haliotis ornaments, one set 
of small miscellaneous ornaments, one bone button, and four 
miscellaneous stone pieces. The 159 objects of cultural patrimony 
removed from Jacobs Mound (CV-27) in Sacramento County, CA, include 159 
clam shell disc bead blanks. The two objects of cultural patrimony from 
Jimeno Mound (CV-29) near Grand Island, Sacramento County, CA, include 
one string of clam shell disc beads, and one lot of loose glass trade 
beads.
    Between 1930 and 1936, the 176 objects of cultural patrimony were 
removed by Henry Gibbs, a private collector and looter. In 1937, Paul 
A. Walker purchased Gibbs' Central Valley, California archeological 
collection. Walker was an amateur archeologist and collector who worked 
by himself and with other amateur archeologists, and in collaboration 
with the University of California and Sacramento Junior College. Over 
the course of his life, Walker amassed an extensive archeological 
collection from California's Central Valley and smaller collections 
from Northern and Southern California, and outside of California. In 
1968, Walker's private archeological collection was acquired by the San 
Diego Museum of Man (now Museum of Us) through a purchase/donation 
transaction with Walker's widow, Bessie B. Walker.

Determinations

    The Museum of Us has determined that:
     The 176 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 Wilton Rancheria, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this 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 August 19, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Museum of Us 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 Museum of Us 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: July 10, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-15834 Filed 7-17-24; 8:45 am]
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