Notice of Intended Repatriation: Kern County Museum, Bakersfield, CA
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kern County Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definit...
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kern County Museum 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 July 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Michael McCoy, Kern County Museum, 3801 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301, email
mmccoy@kerncountymuseum.org.
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 Kern County Museum, 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 20 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 20 objects of cultural patrimony. All baskets originated from the Kern River Valley and were donated to the Kern County Museum by multiple individuals. The baskets are attributed to the following Tribes. 10 baskets—Tubatulabal; five baskets—Kawaiisu; two identified as Tubatulabal/Kawaiisu; one Tejon; one Paiute; one identified as Made by Lower Kern Indian.
Determinations
The Kern County Museum has determined that:
The 20 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 Tejon Indian Tribe.
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.
( printed page 35538)
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after July 13, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Kern County Museum 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 Kern County Museum 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.