Army Corps Hands Back 870 Native Artifacts from Dam Digs
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco plans to return 870 Native American cultural items found during dam construction in Sonoma County back to the affiliated tribes. This repatriation can start on or after December 17, 2025, helping honor Native heritage and respect sacred objects. If you want to learn more or request repatriation, contact the Corps before then.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Large-scale return of Native items
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to repatriate 24,167 unassociated funerary objects and 3 objects of cultural patrimony from sites in Sonoma County. The repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025, and the notice identifies a connection to the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California, Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria.
Who may request repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may send a written request to seek repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests for repatriation may be submitted to Dr. Stephanie Bergman Sahinoglu at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District and repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025.
How competing repatriation claims are handled
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request; repatriation itself may occur on or after December 17, 2025.
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