81 FR 36949 - Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Catalina Island Museum, Avalon, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 110 (June 8, 2016)

The Catalina Island Museum, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of sacred objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the Catalina Island Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 36949]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13589]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-2109; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Catalina Island 
Museum, Avalon, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Catalina Island Museum, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of sacred objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of 
any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written 
request to the Catalina Island Museum. If no additional claimants come 
forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal 
descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in 
this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Catalina Island Museum at 
the address in this notice by July 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Michael DeMarsche, Ph.D., Catalina Island Museum, 1 Casino 
Way, Casino Building, P.O. Box 366, Avalon, CA 90704, telephone (310) 
510-2416, email [email protected].

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 cultural items under the 
control of the Catalina Island Museum, Avalon, CA, 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 items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item(s)

    In 1996, Justin Farmer donated a cultural item (identified as 
96.018) to the Catalina Island Museum as part of a set of baskets with 
no contextual information. Requests for information were sent out to 
tribes based on preliminary assessments of potential affiliation. Based 
on consultation with the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria, California, and Table Mountain Rancheria of California, the 
basket was determined to be part of living ceremonial traditions. Based 
on designs and shape it was identified as a traditional Yokuts 
Rattlesnake basket used in their Spring Ceremony. In addition twinned 
baskets such as catalog number 96.018 are identified as ``Tulare 
bottleneck'' or ``treasure'' baskets. The basket meets the NAGPRA 
definition of a sacred object, and is needed by current religious 
practitioners for the Rattlesnake ceremony and the Spring ceremony.
    In 1961, an unknown person donated one cultural item (identified as 
61.46.16) to the Catalina Island Museum with no contextual information. 
Based on consultation with the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa 
Rosa Rancheria, California, and Table Mountain Rancheria of California, 
the basket displays designs known as the Goose design (La-La). These 
designs signify that it is a cooking basket used for the Spring 
Ceremony. The basket meets the NAGPRA definition of a sacred object and 
is needed by current religious practitioners for the Spring Ceremony.
    The Yokuts language belongs to the Penutian language family and is 
divided by anthropologists into three distinct groups: The Southern 
Valley Yokuts, located in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley 
from the lower Kings River to the Tehachapi Mountains; the Foothill 
Yokuts occupying the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from 
Fresno River to the Kern River; and the Northern Valley Yokuts extended 
``from near where the San Joaquin River makes a big bend northward to a 
line midway between the Calaveras and Mekelumne Rivers.'' Based on 
consultation with Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa 
Rancheria, California, and Table Mountain Rancheria of California, 
catalog number 96.018 and 61.46.16 are sacred items, as defined by 
NAGPRA.

Determinations Made by the Catalina Island Museum

    Officials of the Catalina Island Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 2 cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; 
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; 
Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe 
of the Tule River Reservation, California.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Michael DeMarsche, Ph.D., Catalina Island 
Museum, 1 Casino Way, Casino Building, P.O. Box 366, Avalon, CA 90704, 
telephone (310) 510-2416, email [email protected], by July 8, 
2016. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the sacred objects to the Picayune Rancheria of 
the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of 
the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; the Table Mountain Rancheria of 
California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 
Reservation, California will occur.
    The Catalina Island Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Table 
Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe of 
the Tule River Reservation, California, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 16, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-13589 Filed 6-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P