2023-04261. Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items were removed from Yolo County, CA.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after April 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Dianne Hyson, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

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 California State University, Sacramento. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records held by California State University, Sacramento.

Description

The 61 cultural items were removed from three sites in Yolo County, CA. Sometime in the 1950s, cultural items were removed from CA-YOL-16 (also known as the Kuchler Site) by students at Sacramento State College (now California State University, Sacramento) under the direction of Dr. Reeves. At all times thereafter, the collection has been housed at California State University, Sacramento. In 1966, cultural items were removed from CA-YOL-71 by Harry Hanson. How this collection came into the possession of California State University, Sacramento is unknown. In 1973, cultural items were found during a survey of unknown sites in the Capay Valley. How this collection came into the possession of California State University, Sacramento is unknown. In total there are 61 unassociated funerary objects, of which six objects are currently missing from the collections. The 61 unassociated funerary objects include faunal and floral remains; flaked and ground stone; historic period materials; and modified bones, shells, and stones. California State University, Sacramento continues to look for the six missing objects.

Cultural Affiliation

The cultural items in this notice are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The following types of information were used to reasonably trace the relationship: anthropological, archeological, folkloric, geographical, historical, kinship, linguistic, oral, traditional, other relevant information, and expert opinion.

Determinations

Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, the California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA has determined that:

• The 61 cultural items described above 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native American individual.
• There is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the cultural items and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, California.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in 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 April 3, 2023. If competing requests for repatriation are received, 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. California State University, Sacramento is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribe identified in this notice.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.8, § 10.10, and § 10.14.

Dated: February 22, 2023.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.