# 2026-06825: Sonoma State to Return 1,600+ Sacred Native American Items to Tribes

2026-06825, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2026-04-09, effective 2026-05-11 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06825
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-06825
- Title: Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 18001
- Published: 2026-04-09
- Effective: 2026-05-11
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Sonoma State to Return 1,600+ Sacred Native American Items to Tribes

## Summary

Sonoma State University is planning to return over 1,600 Native American cultural items, including sacred objects and funerary items, to the tribes they belong to. This repatriation will start on or after May 11, 2026, and affects items collected from sites in Sonoma and Marin counties. The university has held these items for decades, and this move respects Native American heritage and laws.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Sonoma State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Sonoma State to Return 1,672 Items: benefit, high. Sonoma State University intends to repatriate a total of 1,672 lots of Native American cultural items (1,485 unassociated funerary object lots and 187 sacred object lots). The repatriation may occur on or after May 11, 2026 and involves material removed from sites in Sonoma and Marin counties, Cali…
- Who Can Request Repatriation: benefit, medium. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may send a written request for repatriation and must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are entitled to the items. If multiple parties request the same items, Sonoma State University will decide the most appropriate…
- Affiliation: Federated Indians of Graton: benefit, medium. Sonoma State University has determined there is a connection between the cultural items described and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, California. That tribe is identified in the notice as culturally affiliated with the items.
- Missing Items & Safety Finding: benefit, low. Sonoma State University states that any additional missing cultural items located later will also be repatriated from the collections described. The university also reports there is no evidence the items were treated with hazardous substances.

## Related documents

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- [2026-20013](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20013): Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports, 2026-09-30
- [2026-20015](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20015): Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms, 2026-09-30
- [2026-19996](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19996): Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, 2026-09-30
- [2026-19002](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19002): National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings, 2026-09-16
- [2026-18306](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18306): Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail, 2026-09-09

## Sources
- [2026-06825 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/09/2026-06825/notice-of-intended-repatriation-sonoma-state-university-rohnert-park-ca)
- [2026-06825 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-09/pdf/2026-06825.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-06824, Notice of Inventory Completion: Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06824)
- [Next: 2026-06826, Notice of Inventory Completion: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06826)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06825 (as of 2026-06-08).