Notice2025-22912
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum, Santa Rosa, 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
December 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum (SRJCMM) intends 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 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58261-58263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22912]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6633; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041366; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Santa Rosa Junior College
Multicultural Museum, Santa Rosa, 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 Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural
Museum (SRJCMM) intends 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 January 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Rachel Minor, SRJCMM, 1501 Mendocino
Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95401, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#17657a7e7978655764767963766578647639727362"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="71031c181f1e033102101f0510031e02105f141504">[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
SRJCMM, 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 306 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 277 unassociated funerary objects/sacred objects are: six
groundstone pestles, six groundstone mortars, one charmstone, 222 stone
points and/or blades, 35 fragments of worked faunal bone, one shell,
four clamshell beads, two bead fragments. The 29 sacred objects are 29
rusted iron nails of various sizes collected from the Carrillo Adobe
site.
Objects 100.005 (pestle), 100.007 (Mortar), 100.008 (pestle), and
100.009 (mortar) were collected by Harry Sonnikin, who worked in
construction in Sonoma County. These items were acquired through the
process of doing his job, and are reasonably connected to the tribe
based upon the geographical
[[Page 58262]]
locations in which the donor did that work. Object 103.106 is an
obsidian biface point, which was located by donor J.R. Black in the
Petaluma Hills. Objects 118.122 and 118.123 (mortars), 118.125,
118.126, and 118.128 (pestles) were collected by donor Patrick
Gallagher in Kenwood, California. Object 35.101, a charmstone, is
assumed to have been collected by the Museum's founder, Jesse Peter. It
has the notation ``California shell mound--east of Ignacio, CA''.
Objects 86.252, consisting of 35 fragments of faunal bone, one small
shell, and a bead fragment, were also assumed to have been collected by
Jesse Peter, with the following note: ``Keiys Place, Bodega Bay''.
Object 92.070 is a mortar ``found 1915-1916 in Santa Rosa Creek near
the modern fire department on Sonoma Avenue'' in Santa Rosa, CA by
Louis Saare Jr. Objects 94.060 and 2025.3.1 consist of seven obsidian
projectile points found by Mr. Gregory Willms (or Williams) in Santa
Rosa, CA. and donated to the Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on
February 22nd,1994. Objects 95.155 (one mortar and one pestle) were
found by donor Janice Boldt in 1948 in Montecito Heights, Santa Rosa,
CA. Object 96.062, an obsidian bifacial blade, was found by Jacob
Borsclair (age 13) in 1993 in Annadel Park on Louis Trail, 20 yards off
the trail- sitting on the ground among obsidian chips--\1/2\ mile from
parking lot, up the hill, under the trees. Objects 97.318 consists of
three obsidian points, each of a different type of obsidian. Bennett
Valley Ranch in Santa Rosa, CA donated these. Objects 98.002, 98.003,
and 98.004 consist of 144 spear points and blades; mixed types of
obsidian, found in the Oakmont region of Santa Rosa during the
construction of the Golf Course by Mr. William Bochman prior to 1969
and donated to the museum by his son, Bruce Bochman. Presence of any
potentially hazardous substances is unknown. Objects 2025.4.1 Consists
of four gray stone scraper tools, ranging in size from 2 to 4.5 inches
in length Collected by Sharon Koch in the vicinity of St. Eugene's
Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa (Montgomery Avenue) in the
1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on
June 23rd, 2025. Objects 2025.4.2 Consists of four obsidian tools;
three scrapers and one projectile point that range in size from 1 inch
(point) to 2.5 inches. Cataloged together as they were donated in one
bag together. Collected from Santa Rosa creek by Sharon Koch and
donated to the Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025.
Objects 2025.4.3 Consists of three tan colored projectile points.
Donator described as scrapers in label accompanying, but are clearly
semi-chipped points with shoulders and notches. Collected by Sharon
Koch in the vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in
Santa Rosa (Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the
Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.4
Consists of one obsidian point, in teardrop shape with serrated blade.
Semitransparent in thinnest places. Collected by Sharon Koch in the
vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa
(Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa
Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.5 Consists of
two obsidian items. One is a very small projectile point, the second is
a fragment of a blade or larger point. Collected by Sharon Koch in the
vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa
(Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa
Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.6 Consists of a
series of nineteen scrapers, points, and blades. Stone material varies,
but majority is obsidian (with one projectile point being mahogany
obsidian specifically). Donated in one bag together, documented
together. Collected by Sharon Koch in the vicinity of St. Eugene's
Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa (Montgomery Avenue) in the
1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on
June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.7 Consists of three tan stone scrapers.
2 to 3.25 inches in length. Collected by Sharon Koch in the vicinity of
St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa (Montgomery
Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa Junior
College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.8 Consists of two
obsidian tools. Collected by Sharon Koch in the vicinity of St.
Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa (Montgomery
Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa Junior
College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.9 Consists of fourteen
fragmentary items, all obsidian but one. Appear to be mostly pieces of
projectile points, both finished and in progress. Collected by Sharon
Koch in the vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in
Santa Rosa (Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the
Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.10
Consists of fourteen scrapers and points of various size and color.
Several are obsidian. Several are tan. Collected by Sharon Koch in the
vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa
(Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These were donated to the Santa Rosa
Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025. Object 2025.4.11 Consists of
four complete clamshell beads and several bead fragments. Collected by
Sharon Koch in the vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and The Carrillo
Adobe in Santa Rosa (Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These were
donated to the Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on June 23rd, 2025.
Object 2025.4.12 Consists of 29 rusted iron nails of various sizes
collected by Sharon Koch in the vicinity of St. Eugene's Church and the
Carrillo Adobe in Santa Rosa (Montgomery Avenue) in the 1960s. These
were donated to the Santa Rosa Junior College Museum on June 23rd,
2025.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the unassociated funerary objects and sacred objects described in
this notice.
Determinations
The SRJCMM has determined that:
<bullet> The 29 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> The 277 unassociated funerary objects/sacred 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in
[[Page 58263]]
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 January 15, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural
Museum 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 Santa Rosa
Junior College Multicultural Museum 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: November 19, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-22912 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 16, 2025.
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