2023-21393. Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: California State University, Chico, Chico, 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, Chico (CSU Chico) 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 Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties, CA.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after October 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Dawn Rewolinski, California State University, Chico, 400 W 1st Street, Chico, CA 95929, 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, Chico. 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, Chico.

Description

Accession 385

Seven cultural items were removed from the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) in Butte County, CA. BCCER is owned by CSU Chico. Between 2001 and 2010, Drs. Frank Bayham and Antoinette Martinez of the CSU, Chico Anthropology Department led classes at several archeological sites at BCCER. In 2005, Dr. Martinez conducted test excavations with a class at BCCER–02, as part of a cooperative agreement with the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California. The seven objects of cultural patrimony are seven oversized stone tools.

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, historical, and expert opinion obtained through Tribal consultation.

Determinations

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

• The seven 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 Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California; Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California; and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki 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 October 30, 2023. If competing requests for repatriation are received, California State University, Chico 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, Chico is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes 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: September 25, 2023.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.