E7-18663. Notice of Inventory Completion: Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 in the control of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA. The human remains were removed from Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties, 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.

A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center professional staff in consultation with representatives of Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (also known as the Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California; and Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California. The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California (formerly the Sheep Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California); Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; and Susanville Indian Rancheria, California were contacted, but did not choose to participate in the consultations.

In 1933, human remains representing a minimum of one individual were removed from an undetermined site in Stockton, San Joaquin Valley, San Joaquin County, CA. The museum has no additional information regarding the removal and museum's acquisition of the human remains. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

In 1939, human remains representing a minimum of one individual were removed from an undetermined site twenty feet from the water's edge-most likely the San Pablo Bay-in Richmond, Contra Costa County, CA, by Mr. J.E. Peterson. The human remains were donated by Mr. J.E. Peterson to the Southwest Museum on April 23, 1939. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

The geographic locations described above lie within Yokut or Miwok territories. Archeologists believe that the Penutian-speaking Yokut and Miwok descend from the Windmiller people who occupied the Central Valley of California nearly 4,000 years ago. The history of California rancherias in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothill regions of California shows that these Windmiller descendants ultimately dispersed to the federally recognized Yokut and Miwok rancherias. The tribes that have a shared group identity with the Yokut and Miwok are Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; Susanville Indian Rancheria, California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California; and Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California.

Officials of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center also have determined that, 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 Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; Susanville Indian Rancheria, California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California; and Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California.

Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Duane H. King, Ph.D., Executive Director, or LaLena Lewark, Senior NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwest Museum of the American Indian, 234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90065, [phone], extension 241, before October 22, 2007. Repatriation of the human remains to the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

The Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center is responsible for notifying the Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Greenville Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California; Susanville Indian Rancheria, California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California; and Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California that this notice has been published.

Dated: August 30, 2007

Sherry Hutt,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.