Museum Returns Ancient Grave Goods to Native Tribes—NAGPRA Edition
Published Date: 8/13/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Autry Museum of the American West (Southwest Museum Collection) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
136 Unassociated Funerary Items to Be Returned
The Autry Museum intends to repatriate 136 lots of unassociated funerary objects collected from Santa Catalina Island (Los Angeles County, Channel Islands, CA). The museum says these items are culturally affiliated with the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation; Pechanga Band of Indians; Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians; and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians.
Repatriation Timing Set
The Autry Museum may carry out repatriation on or after September 14, 2026. That date is the earliest the museum will return the cultural items described in this notice.
Who Can Request Repatriation and How
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation by showing a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. Send requests to Karimah Richardson, Associate Curator of Anthropology, or Maggie Villarreal, Archaeology Collection Manager, at Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (emails: [email protected] and [email protected]).
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