[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15799-15800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office 
[www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6326]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate a Cultural Item: San Francisco State 
University, San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The San Francisco State University, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes, has

[[Page 15800]]

determined that the cultural item meets the definition of a sacred object and 
repatriation to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional 
claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural item may contact the San 
Francisco State University NAGPRA Program.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural 
affiliation with the cultural item should contact the San Francisco State 
University at the address below by April 16, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Jeffrey Boland Fentress, San Francisco State University, Academic 
Affairs-ADM 447, San Francisco, CA 94132, telephone (415) 338-
3075.

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 a cultural item in the possession of the San 
Francisco State University (SFSU) 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 item. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    At an unknown date, a basket (item 75-6-4) was donated to the SFSU 
Treganza Museum. The coiled basket with a three-stick warp in a round, 
shouldered, narrow necked jar shape measures 8.3 cm in height and 14.2 cm in 
diameter and is made of willow, bracken-fern, redbud, yucca and bird quills. 
There are no records at the Treganza Museum concerning acquisition of this 
item.
    Based on ethnographic research and consultation with the Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) 
and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized Indian group, 
the basket has been identified as a treasure basket or Osa. This type of 
basket was used for the storage of sacred items such as crystals, abalone 
ornaments and paint and was used to hold a rattlesnake for the rattlesnake 
dance during both Yokut and Tubatulabal spring ceremonies.
    Based on consultation, ethnographic research, and museum records, the 
basket is culturally affiliated with the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) and the Tubatulabals of 
Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized group. The Tubatulabal people are 
intermarried with the Yokuts in the Kern County area of California. 
Descendants of these Yokuts and Tubatulabals are members of the Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) 
and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized Indian group.

Determinations Made by the San Francisco State University

    Officials of the San Francisco State University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item described above 
is a specific ceremonial object 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 basket and the Santa Rosa 
Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California, (Tachi Yokut Tribe) 
and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-Federally recognized Indian group.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Jeffrey Boland 
Fentress, San Francisco State University, Academic Affairs-ADM 447, San 
Francisco, CA 94132, telephone (415) 338-3075 before April 16, 2012. 
Repatriation of the sacred object to the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the 
Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (Tachi Yokut Tribe) may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The San Francisco State University is responsible for notifying the 
Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian 
Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California (Tachi Yokut Tribe); Table 
Mountain Rancheria of California; Tule River Indian Reservation of the Tule 
River Reservation, California; and the Tubatulabals of Kern Valley, a non-
Federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 12, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-6326 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P