UC Santa Barbara Again Prepares Tribal Repatriation of Remains
Published Date: 9/12/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of California, Santa Barbara finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found these remains are connected to certain Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. This means those groups might get their ancestors’ items back soon, with no costs or deadlines for the public to worry about.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tribes Eligible for Repatriation
Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Santa Barbara completed an inventory and determined that certain Native American Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations are culturally affiliated with human remains and funerary objects. Those tribes and organizations may be eligible to have those ancestral remains and items returned to them.
No Public Costs or Deadlines
The notice says the ancestry review and potential return of items is a matter between the university and the affiliated tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. You as a member of the public do not have costs to pay or deadlines to meet related to this inventory and repatriation.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-17623, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Santa Barbara, Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, Santa Barbara, CA
The University of California, Santa Barbara finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found these remains are connected to certain Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. This means those groups might get their ancestors’ items returned soon, with no costs or deadlines for the public right now.
Next: 2025-17625, Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Santa Barbara, Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, Santa Barbara, CA
The University of California, Santa Barbara plans to return a special cultural item linked to Native American or Native Hawaiian groups. This action follows important laws that protect Native heritage and respects tribal connections. The repatriation will happen soon, honoring the rightful communities without any cost impact to the public.