Repatriation Update: California Uni Adds Tribe to Artifact Return List
Published Date: 1/27/2026
Notice
Summary
Sonoma State University updated its plan to return Native American cultural items, now officially including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria as connected to some artifacts. This means these items can be sent back starting February 26, 2026. If you’re part of a tribe or a descendant interested in these items, you can request repatriation by writing to the university.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tribes added to repatriation
Sonoma State University officially added the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria as culturally affiliated with certain cultural items from sites south of the Russian River. The University also identified the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria as affiliated with those same items.
Repatriation effective date set
Sonoma State University may begin returning the cultural items on or after February 26, 2026. The notice states repatriation of the items described in the original notice has not yet occurred.
Who can request repatriation
Lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations may submit written requests for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are lineal descendants or culturally affiliated. Send requests to Kirsten Twork, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, or by the email address listed in the notice; competing requests will be resolved by the University and joint requests count as a single request.
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