Sonoma State Returns Ancient Tools to Native Tribes
Published Date: 3/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Sonoma State University plans to return 49 cultural items like stone tools and shells to Native American tribes connected to Sonoma County. This repatriation will start on or after April 16, 2025, honoring the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The items have been kept at the university since the 1970s and 1980s, and this move respects tribal heritage without any cost impact mentioned.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
920 Cultural Items To Be Returned
Sonoma State University has determined that 920 unassociated funerary objects (including flaked stone tools, debitage, groundstone, shells, and beads) that it has held since the 1970s–1992 are culturally affiliated with the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, California, and intends to repatriate them. The repatriation may occur on or after April 16, 2025.
Other Tribes May Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request to Sonoma State University to receive the items by showing cultural affiliation; competing requests will require the university to decide the most appropriate requestor. Joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request, and repatriation may occur on or after April 16, 2025.
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