Notice2026-00466
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
Primary source
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Published
January 13, 2026
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, 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 91 Issue 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1340-1341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00466]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6848; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041754; 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, 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 February 12, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Kirsten Twork, Sonoma State
University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82f6f5edf0e9e9c2f1edecedefe3ace7e6f7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8acafb7aab3b398abb7b6b7b5b9f6bdbcad">[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 3,121 lots of cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. Of the cultural items being requested 581 lots are
unassociated funerary objects and 2,540 lots are sacred objects.
The 2,522 lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-SON-960 near
Forestville, California in Sonoma County. Items were removed from the
site during two different time periods. The first removal occurred in
1977 during a field survey. The second occurred in 1980 as part of a
field archaeology class by the Santa Rosa Junior College. In addition
to teaching students archaeology field work, the purpose of the work
done was to evaluate the nature of changes to the site matrix as a
result of discing and maintenance of the apple orchard located within
the site boundaries. The items include flaked stone debitage, flaked
stone tools, charcoal, petrified wood, unmodified faunal bone, historic
material, and unmodified shell. The cultural items have been at Sonoma
State University since their removal from the site.
The 580 unassociated funerary objects were donated to the
university by a ``Mrs. Johnson''. The cultural items were removed from
their location by Hector Lee between Occidental and Sebastopol,
California in Sonoma County. No additional information was located on
why the items were brought to the university. The cultural items
include ground stone tools, modified stone, and modified obsidian and
have been at Sonoma State University since their donation in 1972.
One lot of unassociated funerary objects was removed from CA-SON-
709 located near Forestville California in Sonoma County. No additional
information was located on why the items were removed from the site.
The lot of items are ground stone tools and have been at Sonoma State
University since 1973.
One lot of sacred objects was removed during the Coleman Valley
survey located near Occidental California in Sonoma County. No
additional information was located on why the items were removed from
the site. The cultural items are stone debitage and have been at Sonoma
State University since 1976.
One lot of sacred objects was removed from CA-SON-1125 during the
Cook property survey located near Forestville, California in Sonoma
County. No additional information was located on why the items were
removed from the site. The cultural items are worked obsidian and have
been at Sonoma State University since 1978.
The 16 lots of sacred objects were removed from CA-SON-1260, CA-
SON-1261, and CA-SON-1262 in Occidental, California in Sonoma County.
The items include flaked stone tools. The cultural items have been at
Sonoma State University since 1980.
In the case of missing cultural items, any additional items when
located will also be repatriated from the collections discussed above.
Based on records concerning the cultural items and the institution in
which they are housed, there is no evidence of the items being treated
with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The Sonoma State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 581 lots of 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> The 2,540 lots of 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 reasonable 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
[[Page 1341]]
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 February 12, 2026. 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: January 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-00466 Filed 1-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 13, 2026.
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