UCSB Returns Ancient Remains to Tribes: History Comes Home
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of California, Santa Barbara has finished checking its collection and found human remains and related items linked to Native American tribes near Ventura County. These remains and objects can be returned to the tribes starting October 16, 2026. If you want to request repatriation, contact UCSB by then—no money changes hands, just respect and care for history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Santa Ynez Band Eligible for Repatriation
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) determined that human remains representing at least one Native American individual (Accession 250.025) and 26 associated funerary objects from archaeological site CA-VEN-27B (near Pitas Point, Ventura County) are culturally affiliated with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians. The Santa Ynez Band may submit a written request for repatriation, and repatriation may occur on or after October 16, 2026.
Other Tribes and Descendants Can Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant or any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation if they show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Repatriation to an eligible requestor may occur on or after October 16, 2026.
UCSB Resolves Competing Repatriation Requests
If competing requests for repatriation are received, UCSB Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation; requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request. Any repatriation determined by UCSB may occur on or after October 16, 2026.
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