Army Corps Hands Back Ancient Soil to Native Tribes
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco and the University of California, Riverside plan to return 33 cultural items, mostly soil and charcoal samples, to Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. These items were collected during a dam project and will be repatriated starting December 17, 2025. This respectful return honors cultural connections and involves careful coordination between agencies and tribes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of 33 Cultural Items
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (San Francisco) and the University of California, Riverside intend to return 33 cultural items — all soil and charcoal samples — to affiliated Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. The repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025, and the notice identifies affiliation with the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, California; and the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, California.
How to Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for these items to the named representatives; requests must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the requester is a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Send requests to Dr. Stephanie Bergman Sahinoglu, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102, and to Ms. Megan Murphy, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92517-5900; competing requests will be resolved by the USACE San Francisco District and UCR, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-19967, Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District, San Francisco, CA
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco plans to return 870 Native American cultural items found during dam construction in Sonoma County back to the affiliated tribes. This repatriation can start on or after December 17, 2025, helping honor Native heritage and respect sacred objects. If you want to learn more or request repatriation, contact the Corps before then.
Next: 2025-19969, Notice of Inventory Completion: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Temple University has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found in Pennsylvania. They’ve confirmed these remains belong to certain Native tribes and are ready to return them starting December 17, 2025. If you want to request the return, contact Temple University soon—no money changes hands, just respect and care.