Notice of Intended Repatriation: Center for Natural Lands Management

Notice

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Center for Natural Lands Management, Temecula, CA

A Notice by the National Park Service on 03/27/2026

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-05967 (91 FR 14868) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [N7020; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042478; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Center for Natural Lands Management 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 April 27, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Deborah Rogers, Center for Natural Lands Management, 27258 Via Industria, Suite B, Temecula, CA 92590, email drogers@cnlm.org.

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 Center for Natural Lands Management, 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 approximately 55 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 54 lots of unassociated funerary objects are ceramics, lithics, bone, groundstone, beads, and shells. The one sacred object is the contents of a Shaman's pipe. The objects were likely found in Riverside County, California, in the vicinity of Thousand Palms Oasis. When the Center for Natural Lands Management acquired the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, the objects were found to have been collected in boxes in the Palm House. There is no evidence of hazardous substances being used to treat any of the items.

Determinations

The Center for Natural Lands Management has determined that:

• The 54 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.
• The one sacred object 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.
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, 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 April 27, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Center for Natural Lands Management 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 Center for Natural Lands Management 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: March 20, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-05967 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-05967 (91 FR 14868)