2023-04262. 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 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. The cultural items were removed from Amador 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 the 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 the California State University, Sacramento.

Description

The 108 cultural items were removed from several sites in Amador County, CA, all of which are cataloged under accession number 81-95. In 1959 and through the early 1960s, Jerald Johnson, Patti Palumbo, Louis Payen, Lynn Kauffman, David Boloyan, Hansen, Gorman, and unnamed students of California State University, Sacramento collected various cultural items from CA-AMA-06, AMA-07, AMA-21, AMA-25, AMA-41, AMA-51, AMA-53, AMA-65, AMA-67, AMA-78, AMA-96, AMA-97, AMA-105, AMA-255, and four sites with no known trinomial: unnamed site, Rabbit Creek, Wrapped Stick Cave, and 3-118. All collections were curated at California State University, Sacramento. The 108 objects of cultural patrimony include faunal and flora remains, flaked and ground stone objects, historic objects, modified stone and wood, ochre, and thermally altered rocks.

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, geographical, historical, kinship, linguistic, oral, traditional, 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 has determined that:

• The 108 cultural items described above have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group or culture itself, rather than property owned by an individual.
• There is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the cultural items and the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of 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, 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 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.