Notice of Inventory Completion: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Sonoma State University has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has...
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Sonoma State University has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES:
Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after September 14, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send written requests for repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice to Kirsten Twork, Sonoma State University, 1801 E Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
tworkk@sonoma.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 Sonoma State University, 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.
( printed page 52342)
Abstract of Information Available
Based on the information available a total of one lot of associated funerary objects were identified.
The remains of at least three Ancestors and additional associated funerary objects originating from CA-NAP-261, published in a Notice of Inventory Completion in the
Federal Register
on December 18, 2025 (90 FR 59182), were repatriated by Sonoma State University. The material in this inventory includes soil samples located at the University that were not previously acknowledged in the original inventory and notice. The soil was removed from its context during an excavation in 1977.
CA-NAP-261 was originally recorded in 1967 as an area directly affected by the Napa River Flood Control Project (Jackson 1978:1.1). The site was subject to a subsequent inspection in 1974 that revealed that the site had been disturbed during the interim time between 1967 to 1974 (Jackson 1978:1.1). The site was revisited a third time in November of 1975 to confirm the resource's location. In 1977, the site was subject to data recovery investigations as a mitigation for the implementation of the Napa River Flood Control Project (Jackson 1978:1.1)
In the case of missing cultural items, any additional items when located will also be repatriated from the collections discussed above. Based on records concerning the associated funerary objects and the institution in which they are housed, there is no evidence of the ancestors or items being treated with hazardous substances.
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 associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
Sonoma State University has determined that:
The one lot 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 associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community of the Colusa Rancheria, California; Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation of the Cortina Rancheria (previously listed as Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians); and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, California.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 14, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Sonoma State University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. Sonoma State University 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.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 52341
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Notice of Inventory Completion: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA,” thefederalregister.org (August 13, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-16495/notice-of-inventory-completion-sonoma-state-university-rohnert-park-ca.