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 Louisiana Division of Archaeology, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified from site 16CU203, Cleared, in Calcasieu Parish, LA. No associated funerary objects are present. In June 2021, Gregory Soileau reached out to the state archaeologists about a cranium he found along the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles. Gregory had turned the cranium over to the Calcasieu Parish Corner's office. On August 31, 2023, the coroner's office transferred custody to LDOA. In 2024, it was accessioned at LDOA's curation facility.

Human remains representing, at least one individual has been identified from site 16CM13, Gueydon Canal, in Cameron Parish, LA. At some time before 2024, a member of the public left this collection on the doorstep of a Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana tribal member. Cameron parish is outside of the tribe's area of interest; the collection was transferred to the Louisiana Division of Archaeology. LSU FACES lab confirmed at least three human remains were present. In 2025, the collection was accessioned at LDOA's curation facility. At least one lot of potentially associated funerary objects were noted including ceramics.

Human remains representing, at least one individual has been identified from the Joseph Harbor Beach on the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Cameron Parish, LA. No associated funerary objects are present. At some point prior to 2012, a citizen contacted the Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office about remains found on Joseph Harbor Beach on Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge. On July 27, 2012, the Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office transferred the remains of one individual to LSU FACES Laboratory in Baton Rouge for identification. On January 11, 2021, the remains were escorted to LDOA.

Human remains representing, at least one individual has been identified from an unspecified location along the Tchefuncte River in St. Tammany Parish, LA. The one associated funerary object, a shell tempered bowl, is present. During the 1950s to 1960s, Guy J. Ragusa collected the human remains from along the Tchefuncte River in St. Tammany Parish. They were stored with a newspaper dated September 28, 1969, but it is unclear if this correlates to the recovery date; the remains were in Guy Ragusa's possession until his death. On October 11, 2017, his son, Paul Ragusa, donated the remains to LDOA.

Human remains representing at least, one individual has been identified from site 16ST283, in St. Tammany Parish, LA. In the 1970s, Francis Broussard of Mandeville, LA, collected from an area being developed into the present-day Golden Glen Subdivision. Broussard retained the collections until June 2022, when he donated them to LDOA. Additionally, he was able to inform staff members of the exact location from which the collection was made, and a state site number was assigned. At least one lot of potentially associated funerary objects were noted including ceramics.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains and ( printed page 48421) associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The Louisiana Division of Archaeology has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of five individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The three lots of objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 31, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Louisiana Division of Archaeology must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Louisiana Division of Archaeology is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

91 FR 48420