Notice2025-19962
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sonoma State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51392-51393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19962]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6566; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041190; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert
Park, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sonoma State University intends to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of
unassociated funerary objects 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 December 17, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Elise-Alexandria Green, Sonoma State
University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5c2d7c0c0cbc0c9cce5d6cacbcac8c48bc0c1d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9bfce9fefef5fef7f2dbe8f4f5f4f6fab5feffee">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 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 207 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
A total of three unassociated funerary objects were taken from CA-
SON-350. This site is located just north of Duncans Point in Sonoma
County, California. These cultural items were collected during an
archaeological survey. The cultural items are obsidian tools. The
cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University since 1978
under Accession Number 78-03.
A total of two unassociated funerary objects were taken from CA-
SON-1186 during a cultural resource survey. This site is located just
north of the Russian River in Forestville, California. The cultural
items are modified obsidian and a chert flake. The cultural items have
been housed at Sonoma State University since 1979 under Accession
Number 79-03.
A total of nine unassociated funerary objects were taken from CA-
SON-1328 during a property survey. This site is located west of the
Atascadero Creek in Forestville, California.The cultural items are
modified obsidian and obsidian flakes. The cultural items have been
housed at Sonoma State University since 1981 under Accession Number 81-
01.
A total of 81 unassociated funerary objects were taken from CA-SON-
1512H, CA-SON-1513, and CA-SON-1514. These sites are located just south
of Jenner, California in Sonoma County, near the Russian River. The
cultural items were taken during a cultural resource survey performed
by the Anthropological Studies Center for the Department of Parks and
Recreation. The cultural items include groundstone tools, chert flakes,
historic material, obsidian flakes, quartzite, and obsidian projectile
points. The cultural items have been housed at Sonoma State University
since 1989 under Accession Number 89-02.
A total of 112 unassociated funerary objects were taken from CA-
SON-1534. This site is located near Forestville, California in Sonoma
County. The cultural items were taken during an investigation of the
area due to the Sonoma County Department of Public Works planning to
build a wastewater storage reservoir in an area that encompasses the
site. Obsidian hydration dating suggests that the site was occupied
from 3000 years ago to 150 years ago as of 1989 . The cultural items
include modified obsidian, modified chert, debitage, groundstone tools,
clay, faunal bone, and historic material. The cultural items have been
housed at Sonoma State University since 1986 under Accession Number 86-
01.
Based on records concerning the sacred objects, objects of cultural
patrimony, and the institution in which they are housed, there is no
evidence of the cultural items being treated with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 207 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
[[Page 51393]]
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts
Point 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 December 17, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Sonoma State University 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 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 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: September 18, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-19962 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 17, 2025.
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