Cal State LA Plans Return of 753 Native American Cultural Artifacts
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
California State University, Los Angeles is planning to return 753 important cultural items to Native American Tribes and Native Hawaiian groups starting January 16, 2026. These items include tools, pottery pieces, and bones collected back in 1973. This repatriation honors the tribes' heritage and respects their cultural treasures without any cost impact to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of 753 Cultural Items
California State University, Los Angeles intends to return 753 cultural items (including groundstone tools, hammerstones, flaked stone tools, pottery fragments, and unmodified faunal bone) to affiliated Native American groups. The university determined the items have cultural affiliation with the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, and repatriation may occur on or after January 16, 2026.
Who May Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation to California State University, Los Angeles, and requests may be made to the authorized representative named in the notice. If competing requests are received, the university must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests are treated as a single request.
No Public Cost for Repatriation
The notice states the planned repatriation honors tribal heritage and will occur without any cost impact to the public. The repatriation process may begin on or after January 16, 2026 and will be handled by California State University, Los Angeles under NAGPRA authorities.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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