90 FR 143 pgs. 35716-35717 - Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, and Naval Base Ventura County San Nicolas Island, Ventura County, CA
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 143Pages: 35716 - 35717
Pages: 35716, 35717Docket number: [N6342; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040597; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-14261 Filed 7-28-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Interior Department
Sub Agency: National Park Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6342; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040597; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, and Naval Base Ventura County San Nicolas Island, Ventura County, CA
AGENCY:
National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley and Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) intend 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 August 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Alexandra Lucas, Government and Community Relations, Office of the Chancellor. University of California, Berkeley, 200 California Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, email nagpra-ucb@berkeley.edu and John O'Connor, Ph.D., RPA, Cultural Resources Manager, Naval Base Ventura County, 311 Main Road, Building 632, Point Mugu, CA 93042, email john.t.oconnor88.civ@us.navy.mil.
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 University of California, Berkeley and NBVC, 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 24 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. From 1909 to 1980, 24 unassociated funerary objects were removed from San Nicolas Island, California by several individuals and donated to the Lowie Museum of Anthropology (now known by Phoebe A Hearst Museum) at the University of California, Berkeley. The unassociated funerary objects are arrow straighteners and arrowheads, bone tools, drills, faunal remains, fishhooks, hairpins, harpoons, painting supplies, point fragments, stone cups, stone disks, stone pendants, stone pots, weights (two missing), whistles, worked shell, and worked stone.
Collections and collection spaces at the Phoebe A Hearst Museum of Anthropology were treated with substances for preservation and pest control, some potentially hazardous. No records have been found to date at the Museum to indicate whether or not chemicals or natural substances were used prior to 1960.
Determinations
The University of California, Berkeley and NBVC have determined that:
[top] • The 24 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
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Indians ( previously listed as Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California); Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of Rincon Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; and the Soboba Band of Luiseno 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 August 28, 2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of California, Berkeley and NBVC 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 University of California, Berkeley and NBVC 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: July 9, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-14261 Filed 7-28-25; 8:45 am]
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