Notice2026-18966
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
Primary source
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Published
September 16, 2026
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 sacred 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 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58694-58695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18966]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7482; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043736; 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 sacred 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 October 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Santa Rosa Junior College
Multicultural Museum, 1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#285a454146475a685b49465c495a475b49064d4c5d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d5f404443425f6d5e4c43594c5f425e4c03484958">[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 29 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 29 sacred objects are 28 baskets and/or basketry hats and one
string of Olivella Shell & Bugle trade beads.
Additional provenance research indicates that the objects entered
the SRJC Multicultural Museum through a variety of donors, private
collectors, families, museums, and historical organizations between
1980 and 2023. Several objects are believed to derive from the museum's
original collections, likely acquired by founder Jesse Peter in the
1930s, although documentation is limited. Available records indicate
that some objects were gifted or traded prior to their donation,
including Object 101.104, which was reportedly acquired by Elise
Starrett Elsner while living as a missionary in the Mojave Desert, and
Object 115.027, described as a gift from an Indian acquaintance in the
early 1930s. Other objects have documented transfers from the Sonoma
County Historical Society, Museum of Sonoma County, Codding Museum, and
Mendocino County Museum. Provenance records for several objects remain
incomplete and do not establish a continuous chain of custody.
Determinations
The Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum 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> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Bear River Band of the
Rohnerville Rancheria, California.
[[Page 58695]]
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 October 16, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the SRJCMM 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 SRJCMM 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: September 10, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-18966 Filed 9-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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