San Diego's Museum of Us to Return Ancestral Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 5/5/2026
Notice
Summary
The Museum of Us in San Diego has finished checking its collection and found human remains and objects linked to Native American tribes. Starting June 4, 2026, these remains and items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. This is a big step in respecting Native cultures and making sure their history is honored properly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Museum Identifies Tribal Affiliation
The Museum of Us found human remains representing at least three Native American individuals and 1,511 associated funerary objects and determined they are culturally affiliated with the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California.
Repatriation Eligible Starting June 4, 2026
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after June 4, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Carmen Mosley, Associate Director of Repatriation, Museum of Us, 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101, or by email to the address listed in the notice.
How Competing Repatriation Requests Are Resolved
If the Museum of Us receives competing requests for repatriation, the museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests submitted jointly by multiple requestors are treated as a single request, not competing requests.
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The Museum of Us in San Diego plans to return 71 Native American cultural items, like stones, beads, and ornaments, to the tribes they belong to. These items were taken long ago from sites in California and will be repatriated starting June 4, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public, just a big step toward honoring history.