University of California Plans Return of Eight Native Cultural Items
Published Date: 6/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of California, Riverside plans to return eight special cultural items—like arrowheads, ceramics, and bones—to Native American tribes starting July 16, 2025. These items were found at important archaeological sites and belong to Native communities. This repatriation respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Eight cultural items to be returned
The University of California, Riverside intends to repatriate eight objects of cultural patrimony (two lots of ceramics, one lot of glass, one lot of metal, one lot of animal bone, one lot of manos, one lot of arrowheads, and one lot of geological materials). The university has determined these items have a reasonable connection to the Pechanga Band of Indians and repatriation may occur on or after July 16, 2025.
Who may request repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it is a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated may submit a written request for repatriation. If competing requests are received, the University of California, Riverside will determine the most appropriate requestor; requests may result in repatriation on or after July 16, 2025.
Repatriation involves no public cost
The notice states the planned repatriation respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public. The return process is administrated under NAGPRA and will be handled by the University of California, Riverside following the July 16, 2025 date.
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