[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 23501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9459]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Item: University of 
Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, Denver, 
CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum 
of Anthropology, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, 
has determined that the cultural item meets the definition of 
unassociated funerary 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 University 
of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural item should contact the 
University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of 
Anthropology at the address below by May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Anne Amati, NAGPRA Coordinator/Registrar, University of 
Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, 2000 E. 
Asbury, Sturm 146, Denver, CO 80208, telephone (303) 871-2687.

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 University of Denver Department of Anthropology and 
Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO (DUMA), that meets the definition of 
unassociated funerary object 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

    The one cultural object (no. 4217) consists of burned wooden and 
cord wrapped fragments attached to a glass slide. The cultural object 
came into the possession of Fallis F. Rees at an unknown date. In 1968, 
Mr. Rees donated his collection, including this item, to the University 
of Denver.
    In consultation with Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria representatives, this object was determined to be an 
unassociated funerary object under NAGPRA. Geographical and 
anthropological evidence supports cultural affiliation with the Santa 
Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria. Museum records 
indicate that the burned fragments originated from a cremation burial 
at Vernon Mound, in Sacramento County, CA. Santa Rosa Indian Community 
of the Santa Rosa Rancheria representatives provided maps identifying 
aboriginal territory inclusive of Sacramento County as well as an 
ethnographic report identifying cremation as a traditional Yokut 
funerary practice.

Determinations Made by the University of Denver Department of 
Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology

    Officials of the University of Denver Department of Anthropology 
and Museum of Anthropology have determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the one cultural item 
described above is 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 is believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary object and the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria, California.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary object should 
contact Anne Amati, University of Denver Department of Anthropology and 
Museum of Anthropology, 2000 E Asbury Ave., Sturm 146, Denver, CO 
80208, telephone (303) 871-2687, before May 21, 2012. Repatriation of 
the unassociated funerary object to the Santa Rosa Indian Community of 
the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Buena Vista Rancheria of 
Me-Wuk Indians of California; California Valley Miwok Tribe, 
California; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; 
Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk 
Indians of California; Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of 
California; Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi 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, Table Mountain Rancheria of California; 
Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California; and 
the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of 
California that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 12, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-9459 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
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