Notice2025-23347
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Primary source
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Published
December 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and University of California, Berkeley intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59570-59571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23347]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6775; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041541; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA) and University of California, Berkeley intends
to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of
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 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Tamara Billie, U.S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Mailbox
44, Albuquerque, NM 87104, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aadecbc7cbd8cb84c8c3c6c6c3cfeac8c3cb84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a4e5b575b485b1458535656535f7a58535b145d554c">[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
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), 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 13 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 13 objects of cultural patrimony were removed in 1956 by F.J.
Johnston and P.H. Johnston from sites CA-RIV-74
[[Page 59571]]
and CA-RIV-84 in Riverside County, California, during a University of
California Archaeological Survey. These objects include pottery, faunal
remains, and lithics. They were accessioned into the University of
California Museum of Anthropology (now the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of
Anthropology) later that same year.
Collections and collection spaces at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of
Anthropology were treated with substances for preservation and pest
control, some of which are potentially hazardous. No records have been
found to date at the Museum to indicate whether chemicals or natural
substances were used before 1960.
Determinations
The BIA has determined that:
<bullet> The 13 objects of cultural patrimony described in this
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians,
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 20, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA) 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
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 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: December 4, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23347 Filed 12-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 19, 2025.
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