Notice2025-20110
Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Arcata, CA, and 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 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) and Sonoma State University intend to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony 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 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51779-51780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6593; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041306; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State Polytechnic
University, Humboldt, Arcata, CA, and 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), California State Polytechnic University,
Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) and Sonoma State University intend to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of
unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or 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 December 18, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Megan Watson, NAGPRA Coordinator for
Cal Poly Humboldt, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1675777a787771666477567e637b74797a726238737263"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="096a686567686e797b6849617c646b66656d7d276c6d7c">[email protected]</span></a>, and Kirsten Twork, Repatriation Coordinator for
Sonoma State University, 1801 E Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#deaaa9b1acb5b59eadb1b0b1b3bff0bbbaab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a4e4d554851517a49555455575b145f5e4f">[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 Cal
Poly Humboldt and 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 191 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
Of these cultural items, a total of 141 individual items are
unassociated funerary objects, including flaked stone, unmodified
stones, and shell. A total of 50 items are sacred objects, including
flaked stone, groundstone, polished stone, shell, unmodified faunal
remains, floral remains, and historic items.
In 1984, 141 individual cultural items were removed from CA-SON-
712/P-49-000655 (also known as the Dutton Property), located in
Sebastopol, California. The cultural items were removed by
archaeologist Alan Bramlette of the Sonoma State University Cultural
Resources Facility and donated to Humboldt State University (now Cal
Poly Humboldt). Records indicate that additional items from this site
are held in the property owner's private collection and are not in the
possession of Cal Poly Humboldt.
In 1987, 50 cultural items were removed from CA-SON-1101/P-49-
001029, located in Sebastopol, California. The cultural items were
removed by archaeologist Alan Bramlette of the Sonoma State University
Cultural Resources Facility. Of these cultural items, 15 items were
kept at Sonoma State University, while 35 individual items were donated
to Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt).
Determinations
Cal Poly Humboldt and Sonoma State University have determined that:
<bullet> The 141 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
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
[[Page 51780]]
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> The 50 sacred objects described in this notice are
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Federated Indians of Graton 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 18, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, Cal Poly Humboldt and 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. Cal Poly
Humboldt and Sonoma State University are 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 30, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-20110 Filed 11-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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