Sonoma State sends cultural treasures home to California tribes
Published Date: 12/18/2025
Notice
Summary
Sonoma State University has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and artifacts and found they belong to local tribes. Starting January 20, 2026, these remains and items can be returned to the tribes. This means important cultural treasures will soon go back home, honoring Native communities and their history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation Allowed Starting January 20, 2026
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice may occur on or after January 20, 2026. Written requests must be sent to Kirsten Twork at Sonoma State University (1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 or email [email protected]).
Collections Linked to Three Wintun Nations
Sonoma State University determined that the human remains (representing five individuals) and 28,516 lots of associated funerary objects are reasonably affiliated with the Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community of the Colusa Rancheria, the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation of the Cortina Rancheria, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, California. The collections include many categories of items (flaked stone tools, ground stone, shell, faunal and botanical remains).
Who Can Request and How Conflicts Are Resolved
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes named in this notice or by any lineal descendant, tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, Sonoma State University must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests are treated as a single request.
Missing Items and Safety Finding
Sonoma State University stated that any missing cultural items, when located, will also be repatriated from the collections discussed in this notice. Records indicate there is no evidence that the human remains or associated funerary objects were treated with hazardous substances.
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