Caltrans Repatriates Highway-Dug Native Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Caltrans in San Diego has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and related items found during a highway project. These remains and objects will be returned to the right tribes starting January 16, 2026. This process respects Native cultures and helps bring important ancestral items back home without any cost to tribes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation Available Starting January 16, 2026
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice may occur on or after January 16, 2026. The notice covers human remains representing at least two individuals and 25 lots of associated funerary objects, plus one ancestor and 3,865 cultural items from CA-SDI-777 and one ancestor and 11,000 cultural items from CA-SDI-4513, and repatriation will be provided without any cost to tribes.
Cultural Affiliation Identified to Specific Tribes
Caltrans determined a cultural affiliation between the remains/objects and the Capitan Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California and its associated groups (Barona Group; Viejas Group; Ewiiaapaayp; Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel; Inaja Band; Jamul Indian Village; La Posta Band; Manzanita Band; Mesa Grande Band; San Pasqual Band; and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation).
Who Can Request Repatriation
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice, or by a lineal descendant or tribe/organization not listed that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence. If competing requests are received, Caltrans must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request.
No Hazardous Treatments Documented for Items
The notice states there are no known or documented potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the cultural items described in this inventory. This affects handling, transport, and storage safety considerations for the items being repatriated.
Some Catalog Entries Identified as Missing
Catalog entries included in this notice have been identified as missing from the accessioned collections, and Caltrans and San Diego State University continue to look for them; this may affect which physical items are available for repatriation if they are not located.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-23001, Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Western Kentucky University found human remains on campus and confirmed they belong to Native American ancestors. Starting January 16, 2026, these remains can be returned to the right tribes. This means the university is doing its part to respect Native heritage and follow important laws.
Next: 2025-23003, Notice of Inventory Completion: Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA
Mercyhurst University has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes. These remains, taken decades ago from a site in Kentucky, can be returned to the tribes starting January 16, 2026. If you want to request the remains, contact Mercyhurst soon to help honor this important cultural connection.