California Museum Ready to Return Arizona Native Remains
Published Date: 12/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains from Arizona that belong to certain tribes. Starting January 20, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes connected to them. This process respects Native American heritage and involves no cost to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Human Remains Eligible for Repatriation
If you are affiliated with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, human remains identified as culturally affiliated with the Hopi Tribe from Yavapai County, Arizona may be repatriated to the Tribe on or after January 20, 2026. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has determined the remains represent at least one Native American individual and has identified the Hopi Tribe as culturally affiliated.
Who May Request Repatriation
You may request repatriation if you are one of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or if you are a lineal descendant, Tribe, or organization that can show by a preponderance of the evidence that you are culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests are treated as a single request.
No Public Cost for Repatriation Process
The notice states the repatriation process respects Native American heritage and involves no cost to the public. Repatriation actions described in this notice may occur on or after January 20, 2026 without cost to the general public.
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