The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, has completed an inventory of unassociated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the unassociated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these cultural items should submit a written request to the Tonto National Forest. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

Prior to 1990, 11 unassociated funerary objects were removed from Six Shooter Canyon in Gila County, AZ. The unassociated funerary objects were donated to the Grand Canyon Museum and then transferred to the Tonto National Forest on December 29, 2016. The 11 unassociated funerary objects are three shell bracelets, three shell rings, and five turquoise tessera pieces. A detailed assessment of the unassociated funerary objects was made by the Tonto National Forest professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, who submitted a repatriation claim for the cultural items.

In accordance with the Plan for the Treatment and Disposition of Human Remains and Other Cultural Items from the Tonto National Forest Pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (as revised in 2001), it has been determined that the primary cultural affiliation of these unassociated funerary objects is with the Ak-Chin Indian Community (previously listed as the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona); 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.