San Diego's Museum of Us Inventories Remains for Tribal Kin
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of Us has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Museum finds Chumash affiliation
The Museum of Us identified human remains representing at least 51 Native American individuals and 1,025 associated funerary objects and determined they are culturally affiliated with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians. This determination supports returning those remains and objects to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash.
Who may request repatriation and timing
The notice allows repatriation requests from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, any Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or any lineal descendant or tribe that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence. The notice states repatriation may occur on or after December 15, 2026 (and elsewhere in the notice it states repatriation may occur on or after October 16, 2026); the Museum must resolve any competing requests and treats joint requests as a single request.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-18966, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum (SRJCMM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Next: 2026-18968, Notice of Inventory Completion: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Indiana University has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.