UC Davis Preps Tribal Ancestors for Repatriation
Published Date: 10/8/2026
Notice
Summary
UC Davis has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and special items found in West Sacramento. These remains belong to the Patwin, Miwok, and Nisenan Tribes, and they’re ready to be returned starting November 9, 2026. If you represent these tribes, you can ask UC Davis to send the remains and items back—no money changes hands, just respect and care.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation available to named Tribes
UC Davis has determined that human remains from a West Sacramento site represent at least two Native American individuals affiliated with Patwin, Miwok, and Nisenan groups, specifically naming: Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California; Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community of the Colusa Rancheria; California Valley Miwok Tribe; Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California; Jackson Band of Me-Wuk Indians; Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation of the Cortina Rancheria; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians (Verona Tract); United Auburn Indian Community of the Auburn Rancheria; Wilton Rancheria; and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The University will repatriate these human remains and associated funerary objects on or after November 9, 2026.
Who may request repatriation and how
Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Megon Noble, Senior Strategic Advisor and Repatriation Coordinator at University of California, Davis (251 Mrak Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616; email [email protected]). Requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes named in this notice or by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated.
Objects identified and competing-request rules
The inventory lists human remains representing at least two individuals and four associated funerary objects (three present: two mammal bones and one bone awl; one lot of associated funerary objects is currently missing). The remains and objects were collected in 1964 by Bill Pritchard. If multiple requests for repatriation are received, UC Davis must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request.
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