[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15799-15800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6326]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate a Cultural Item: San Francisco 
State University, San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The San Francisco State University, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes, has

[[Page 15800]]

determined that the cultural item meets the definition of a sacred 
object and repatriation to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if 
no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the 
cultural item may contact the San Francisco State University NAGPRA 
Program.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural item should contact the San 
Francisco State University at the address below by April 16, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Jeffrey Boland Fentress, San Francisco State University, 
Academic Affairs-ADM 447, San Francisco, CA 94132, telephone (415) 338-
3075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate a cultural item in the 
possession of the San Francisco State University (SFSU) that meet the 
definition of sacred objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural item. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    At an unknown date, a basket (item 75-6-4) was donated to the SFSU 
Treganza Museum. The coiled basket with a three-stick warp in a round, 
shouldered, narrow necked jar shape measures 8.3 cm in height and 14.2 
cm in diameter and is made of willow, bracken-fern, redbud, yucca and 
bird quills. There are no records at the Treganza Museum concerning 
acquisition of this item.
    Based on ethnographic research and consultation with the Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut 
Tribe) and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized 
Indian group, the basket has been identified as a treasure basket or 
Osa. This type of basket was used for the storage of sacred items such 
as crystals, abalone ornaments and paint and was used to hold a 
rattlesnake for the rattlesnake dance during both Yokut and Tubatulabal 
spring ceremonies.
    Based on consultation, ethnographic research, and museum records, 
the basket is culturally affiliated with the Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) 
and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized group. 
The Tubatulabal people are intermarried with the Yokuts in the Kern 
County area of California. Descendants of these Yokuts and Tubatulabals 
are members of the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) and the Tubatulabals of Kern 
Valley, a non-Federally recognized Indian group.

Determinations Made by the San Francisco State University

    Officials of the San Francisco State University have determined 
that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is a specific ceremonial object needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the basket 
and the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a 
non-Federally recognized Indian group.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Jeffrey 
Boland Fentress, San Francisco State University, Academic Affairs-ADM 
447, San Francisco, CA 94132, telephone (415) 338-3075 before April 16, 
2012. Repatriation of the sacred object to the Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (Tachi Yokut Tribe) 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The San Francisco State University is responsible for notifying the 
Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (Tachi Yokut 
Tribe); Table Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian 
Reservation of the Tule River Reservation, California; and the 
Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized Indian group, 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 12, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-6326 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
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