Notice2026-00868
Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, 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
January 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento 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 91 Issue 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2146-2147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00868]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6879; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041867; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University,
Sacramento, Sacramento, 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 California State University, Sacramento
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 February 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Mark R. Wheeler, Senior Advisor to
President Luke Wood, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J
Street Sacramento, CA 95819, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96fbf7e4fdb8e1fef3f3faf3e4d6f5e5e3e5b8f3f2e3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5d303c2f36732a35383831382f1d3e2e282e73383928">[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
California State University, Sacramento, 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 72 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 72 unassociated funerary objects include modified stones and
shells; unmodified stones; quartz crystals; faunal remains; charcoal
pieces; soil/ash samples; and historic materials. The unassociated
funerary objects were removed from several sites in western El Dorado
County, CA, including CA-ELD-32 (acc. 81-362), CA-ELD-33 (acc. 81-CSUS-
025), CA-ELD-35 (acc. 81-349), CA-ELD-433 (acc. 81-119), CA-ELD-447
(acc. 81-119), CA-ELD-450 (acc. 81-119), CA-ELD-Crystal Cosumnes Cave
(acc. 81-CSUS-358), CA-ELD-1569 (acc. 81-193), CA-ELD-1828 (acc. 81-
132), CA-ELD-Scott Creek (81-CSUS-
[[Page 2147]]
313), CA-ELD-Garden Bar (acc. 81-69), and CA-ELD-Unknown (acc. 81-119,
and 1974-31). The unassociated funerary objects primarily originate
from California State University, Sacramento excavations and survey
projects in the 1950s-1980s. An unknown number of unidentified cultural
items may be missing from the collections, which may include other
categories of items. The University is unaware of any treatment of the
objects of cultural patrimony with pesticides, preservatives, or other
substances that represent a potential hazard to the objects or to
persons handling the objects.
Determinations
The California State University, Sacramento has determined that:
<bullet> The 72 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> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle
Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), 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 February 17, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the California State University, Sacramento
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 California State
University, Sacramento 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 9, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-00868 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 16, 2026.
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