Berkeley Plans Return of Sacred Native Items to Tribes Soon
Published Date: 9/25/2025
Notice
Summary
The University of California, Berkeley is planning to return important cultural items to Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. These items include sacred objects and unassociated funerary objects that belong to these communities. This respectful act follows the law and helps honor the heritage of the affected tribes, with the process happening soon and no cost to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
UC Berkeley to Return Tribal Items
The University of California, Berkeley intends to return cultural items to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The items include sacred objects, unassociated funerary objects, and objects of cultural patrimony that have a cultural affiliation with those tribes and organizations.
Repatriation at No Public Cost
The notice says the repatriation process will occur soon and will be carried out with no cost to the public. That means taxpayers will not be charged for the return of these cultural items.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606 — Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-11700 — Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection and found human remains and a bone tool linked to Native American tribes. Starting July 13, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. If you want to request the return, you can contact the museum directly—just a heads-up, some items might need careful handling due to past pesticide use.
2026-11701 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History plans to return five Native Hawaiian cultural items, like stone tools, that were taken from burial sites on Oʻahu back in 1938. This repatriation will start on or after July 13, 2026, giving Native Hawaiian groups a chance to reclaim their heritage. No money changes hands, but it’s a big step in respecting and restoring Native Hawaiian history.
2026-11238 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan has finished checking its collection and found Native American ancestral remains from a historic site in Michigan. These remains can be returned to the affiliated tribes starting July 6, 2026. This means the university is ready to give back these important cultural items, following the law, with no costs or risks involved.
2026-11232 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley plans to return four important cultural items—two baskets and two charmstones—to Native American tribes connected to them. This repatriation will start on or after July 6, 2026, honoring the tribes’ heritage and history. No money changes hands, but the university is making sure these treasures go back to their rightful communities.
2026-11231 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley plans to return 24 important Native American cultural items, like beans and corn seeds, to the tribes they belong to starting July 6, 2026. These items were collected in the 1940s and hold special cultural meaning. This repatriation respects Native traditions and helps heal history without any cost to the public.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-18579 — Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA
The Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology has finished checking its collection and found that some human remains and burial items belong to Native American tribes or Native Hawaiian groups. This means these items will be returned to the right communities, respecting their heritage. The process follows important laws and helps honor Native cultures without any cost to the public.
Next: 2025-18581 — Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Andover, MA
The Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology finished checking their 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 the museum will work with these communities to return the items respectfully, following important laws.