Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20494-20495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07388]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7081; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042598; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, 
Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 20495]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento 
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.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after May 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Mark R. Wheeler, Senior Advisor to 
President Luke Wood, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J 
Street, Sacramento, CA 95819, email mark.wheeler@csus.edu.

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 the 
California State University, Sacramento, and additional information on 
the determinations in this notice, including the results of 
consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of at least six cultural items have been requested for 
repatriation. The six objects of cultural patrimony include 
groundstones, flaked stones, and unmodified stones. An unknown number 
of unidentified cultural items may be missing from the collection, 
which may include other categories of items. The items (accession 81-
494) were likely collected by a former Professor in the 1960s and 1970s 
while surveying in the Woodbridge Ranch area of Sacramento, County 
prior to development. The California State University, Sacramento is 
unaware of any treatment of the objects of cultural patrimony with 
pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that represent a 
potential hazard to the objects or to persons handling the objects.

Determinations

    The California State University, Sacramento has determined that:
    •  The six objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other 
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of 
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
    •  There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Wilton Rancheria, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under 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 May 18, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the California State University, Sacramento 
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. The California State 
University, Sacramento is responsible for sending a copy of this notice 
to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in 
this notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: April 8, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07388 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
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