SF State Repatriates 256 Burial Items to Native Groups
Published Date: 1/13/2026
Notice
Summary
San Francisco State University plans to return 256 cultural items linked to Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. These items, including shells, stones, and bones, were taken from burial sites long ago and will be repatriated starting February 12, 2026. This respectful return honors Native traditions and helps heal history without any cost to the tribes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
256 Cultural Items Scheduled Return
San Francisco State University intends to repatriate 256 cultural items and lots that are associated with Native American burial contexts. The repatriation may occur on or after February 12, 2026, and the items include glass, shells, faunal remains, rocks, charcoal, bones, lithics, obsidian, ground stones, and two large mortars.
Items Linked to Federated Indians of Graton
The SF State NAGPRA Program determined these 256 items have a cultural affiliation with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California, and were removed from site CA-MRN-17 (De Silva Island, Marin County) between 1850 and 1855. SF State previously repatriated other ancestors and associated funerary objects from CA-MRN-17 in 2008 and 2012.
Who Can Request Repatriation and How
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation to Alexander Dursin, San Francisco State University NAGPRA Program (1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132; email [email protected]). If competing requests are received, SF State must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request. Repatriation may occur on or after February 12, 2026.
Return Will Occur at No Cost to Tribes
The notice states the repatriation honors Native traditions and will occur without any cost to the tribes. The returns are presented as a respectful act intended to help heal historical harms.
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Next: 2026-00460, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding, CA
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