UC Riverside Returns Local Tribal Remains from Old Dig
Published Date: 4/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of California, Riverside has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and related items found at an archaeological site in Riverside County. These remains and objects are linked to local Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian groups and will be returned to them starting May 19, 2025. This process helps protect and respect Native heritage without any cost to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation to Identified Tribes Begins May 19, 2025
The University of California, Riverside determined that human remains representing at least one Native American individual and seven associated funerary objects from archaeological site CA-RIV-399 (the Painted Rock Site) are affiliated with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. These human remains and objects may be returned (repatriated) to the affiliated tribes or eligible claimants on or after May 19, 2025.
Who Can Request Repatriation and How Requests Are Handled
Written requests for repatriation must be sent to the University of California, Riverside authorized representative and may be submitted by (1) any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice or (2) any lineal descendant or other tribe/organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the University must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests are treated as a single request. Repatriation may occur on or after May 19, 2025.
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