[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9629-9630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4674]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 and associated funerary 
objects in the control of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, 
Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Fresno, Kings and Tulare 
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 and associated funerary objects. 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 the Big 
Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Picayune Rancheria of 
the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of 
the Santa Rosa 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. The Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of 
California and Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California were 
contacted, but did not participate in the consultations about the human 
remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.
    In an unknown year, human remains representing a minimum of four 
individuals were removed from an unknown site in Kingsburg, Fresno 
County, CA. The museum has no

[[Page 9630]]

additional information regarding the circumstances of the removal or 
the museum's acquisition of the human remains. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown site in Kettleman Hills, Kings 
County, CA. The museum has no additional information regarding the 
circumstances of the removal. On June 26, 1942, the human remains were 
donated to the museum by Mrs. Frank S. Johnson for the Frank S. Johnson 
Collection. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In an unknown year, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown site near Tulare Lake, 2 miles 
southwest of Burrell, Kings County, CA, during an excavation by a 
contractor's bulldozer that was clearing ground for an oil well for the 
General Petroleum Company. On November 6, 1944, the human remains were 
donated to the museum by Edwin F. Walker. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of seven 
individuals were removed from an unknown site near Tule Lake, 
approximately 5 miles from Corcoran, Kings County, CA. The human 
remains were found in a bulldozed area near an irrigation project. At 
an unknown time and by unknown means, Mr. Charles Dirks acquired the 
human remains. On May 17, 1954, the human remains were donated to the 
museum by Mr. Dirks. No known individuals were identified. The three 
associated funerary objects are two obsidian arrow points and one 
obsidian dart point fragment.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown site near the south end of Tule 
Lake Basin, Kings County, CA. At an unknown time and by unknown means, 
R.B. Luckey acquired the human remains. On January 10, 1955, the human 
remains were donated to the museum by R.B. Luckey. No known individual 
was identified. The one associated funerary object is a hard soil 
sample with embedded fresh-water shells.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unknown site near the eastern Sierra 
foothills, Lost and Long Canyons, Tulare County, CA, by Mr. Henry F. 
Fuller. The site was on and/or nearby Mr. Fuller's ranch in the Long 
Canyon area. On January 4, 1949, the human remains and associated 
funerary items were donated to the museum by Mr. Fuller. No known 
individual was identified. The 28 associated funerary objects are 17 
glass beads and 11 glass trade bead fragments. An additional three 
associated funerary objects (a biface mano, an obsidian biface blade 
fragment, and an obsidian uniface scrape) were documented with the 
burial, but have not been located in the collection.
    The ages of the above detailed human remains are unknown. Based on 
an archeological analysis, the individuals have been identified as 
Native American. Consultation with a tribal representative of the Santa 
Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, 
confirmed that the provenience of the human remains is consistent with 
that of other discoveries of indigenous human remains in the area. 
Geographical and historical evidence indicates that the sites are 
located within the traditional territory of the Central Valley Yokuts 
and Monache people. The Central Valley Yokuts' traditional territory 
extends from Tulare Lake to the Western Sierra Nevada Foothills. 
Descendants of the Central Valley Yokuts are members of the Picayune 
Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa 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. The Monache's traditional territory 
is in the proximity of the Western slope of the Sierra Nevada 
Mountains. Descendants of the Monache are members of the Big Sandy 
Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono 
Indians of California; and Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians 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 at least 15 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 (3)(A), the 32 objects 
described above are 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. Lastly, officials of the Southwest Museum 
of the American Indian, Autry National Center 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 associated funerary objects and the Big Sandy 
Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono 
Indians of California; Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of 
California; Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 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 and associated funerary 
objects should contact Steven M. Karr, Ph.D., Ahmanson Curator of 
History and Culture and Interim Executive Director, 234 Museum Drive, 
Los Angeles, CA 90065, telephone (323) 221-2164, extension 241, or 
LaLena Lewark, Senior NAGPRA Coordinator, Autry National Center, 4700 
Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027, telephone (323) 667-2000, 
extension 220, before April 6, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects 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 Big Sandy Rancheria of Mono Indians of 
California; Cold Springs Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; 
Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California; Picayune Rancheria 
of the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of 
the Santa Rosa 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: February 13, 2009.
Sangita Chari,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-4674 Filed 3-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S