Cal State Plans Return of 19 Sacred Items to Tribes
Published Date: 11/18/2025
Notice
Summary
California State University, Stanislaus is planning to return 19 important cultural items to Native American tribes connected to Amador County, California. These items, taken in 1991 during an archaeological project, hold special cultural and historical meaning. The repatriation can start on or after December 18, 2025, with no money changes involved—just respect and restoration!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of 19 cultural items to tribes
California State University, Stanislaus intends to repatriate 19 objects of cultural patrimony that were removed in 1991 from sites CA-AMA-348/H, AMA-352, and AMA-353 in Amador County, California. The university has identified a cultural affiliation between these items and the California Valley Miwok Tribe; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria of California; Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California (Carson Colony, Dresslerville Colony, Woodfords Community, Stewart Community, & Washoe Ranches); and the Wilton Rancheria, California, and repatriation may occur on or after December 18, 2025.
Who may request repatriation and process rules
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation to the authorized representative at California State University, Stanislaus and must show 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 December 18, 2025.
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