Notice2026-05964
Notice of Inventory Completion: S'edav Va'aki Museum, City of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Primary source
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Published
March 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum), City of Phoenix has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14874-14875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05964]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7025; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042483; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: S'edav Va'aki Museum, City of
Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
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 S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo
Grande Museum), City of Phoenix has completed an inventory of human
remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in
this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after April 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Lindsey Vogel-Teeter,
S'edav Va'aki Museum, 4619 East Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8c4c1c6ccdbcdd186dec7cfcdc485dccdcddccddae8d8c0c7cdc6c1d086cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f79b9e999384928ed9819890929bda839292839285b7879f9892999e8fd9909881">[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
S'edav Va'aki Museum, City of Phoenix, and additional information on
the determinations in this notice, including the results of
consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this
notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, six individuals and two
associated funerary objects have been identified in the collections of
S'edav Va'aki Museum (SVM). The human remains and
[[Page 14875]]
associated funerary objects have no collecting history and were either
found in the collections of SVM or transferred to SVM from the Phoenix
Museum of History (PMOH). PMOH closed in 2009 and no longer exists. The
acquisition history of these individuals and associated funerary
objects geographically locates the individuals and associated objects
in Maricopa County, AZ.
Around 1960, at least one individual was documented in an
exhibition at SVM. In 1995 this same individual was documented in
collections at SVM. No associated funerary objects are present and
there is no other acquisition information. Bioarchaeological
documentation suggests that this individual is not consistent with the
Hohokam archaeological culture but may be consistent with archaic and/
or hunter/gatherer populations. These human remains are coated with
Alvar, an acrylic resin that is not known to be toxic. The Alvar was
likely applied by SVM staff between the 1930s and 1960s.
In 1970, at least one individual was documented in collections at
SVM. No associated funerary objects are present and there is no other
acquisition information. Bioarchaeological documentation suggests that
this individual is not consistent with the Hohokam archaeological
culture. These human remains are coated with Alvar, an acrylic resin
that is not known to be toxic. The Alvar was likely applied by SVM
staff between the 1930s and 1960s.
On December 10, 2005, at least one individual was documented at
SVM. No associated funerary objects are present. The human remains were
abandoned, overnight, by an unknown person and were found at the
driveway entrance gate to SVM. A note with the human remains stated
``This Native American scull [sic] was found by hunter in the 1960s,
that is all that is known. Please take proper care of it Thx [sic].''
There is no other information.
On August 24, 2006, at least one individual was documented in the
estate of Donald Hiser and transferred to SVM. No associated funerary
objects are present. Donald Hiser was the former City of Phoenix
Archaeologist and worked at SVM from 1960 to 1983. Bioarchaeological
documentation suggests that this individual is not consistent with the
Hohokam archaeological culture. These human remains are coated with
Alvar, an acrylic resin that is not known to be toxic. The Alvar was
likely applied by Museum staff between the 1930s and 1960s. The human
remains are also labeled with an unknown ink.
On January 16, 2002, at least one individual and one associated
funerary object were identified in the collection of the PMOH. On
September 10, 2009, the human remains and associated funerary object
were transferred from the PMOH to the SVM. The human remains are
cremated and bioarchaeological documentation suggests that the human
remains are unusual in presentation and more consistent with the
practice of 19th and 20th century cremation. The one associated
funerary object is a Playas incised jar, a type of ceramic associated
with the Jornada Mogollon archaeological culture. However, secondary
cremations are not associated with the Jornada Mogollon archaeological
culture therefore it is unlikely that the individual is associated with
that archaeological culture. There is no other information.
On January 16, 2002, at least one individual and one associated
funerary object were identified in the collection of the PMOH. On
September 10, 2009, the human remains and associated funerary object
were transferred from the PMOH to the SVM. The one associated funerary
object is a faunal bone. There is no other information.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The SVM has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The two objects described in this notice are reasonably
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite
or ceremony.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Ak-Chin
Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian
Reservation, Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the
Salt River Reservation, Arizona; and the Tohono O'odham Nation of
Arizona.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES.
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after April 27,
2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the SVM must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing
requests. The SVM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to
the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice and any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: March 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05964 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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