Sonoma State to Return 3,100 Sacred Items to Tribes
Published Date: 1/13/2026
Notice
Summary
Sonoma State University plans to return over 3,100 cultural items, including sacred objects and unassociated funerary objects, to Native American tribes connected to the items. This repatriation can start on or after February 12, 2026, and involves items collected from Sonoma County, California. The university is leading this effort to respect and honor the cultural heritage of the tribes involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of 3,121 Tribal Items
Sonoma State University intends to return 3,121 lots of cultural items — specifically 581 lots of unassociated funerary objects and 2,540 lots of sacred objects — to Native American tribes with cultural affiliation. The notice identifies a reasonable connection to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and repatriation may occur on or after February 12, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation by showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to the authorized representative (Kirsten Twork, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928; email as listed in the notice).
Later-Found Items Also Returned
The notice states that if any missing cultural items from the collections are later located, those items will also be repatriated from the Sonoma State University collections discussed in this notice. This extension applies to items associated with the same collections.
No Evidence of Hazardous Treatment
Sonoma State University reports there is no evidence that the cultural items were treated with hazardous substances. That indicates the university did not identify hazardous treatment in the records for the collections named in the notice.
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