UC Davis prepares Chumash ancestral remains for repatriation
Published Date: 10/30/2026
Notice
Summary
UC Davis has finished checking their collection and found Native American remains linked to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians. These remains can be returned to the tribe starting November 30, 2026. If you’re part of the tribe or a related group, you can ask UC Davis to send the remains back by contacting their repatriation coordinator.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
UC Davis identifies Chumash affiliation
If you are a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, UC Davis has determined that the human remains represent at least one Native American individual and that there is a cultural affiliation with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California. This determination is the university's finding under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Earliest repatriation date set
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice may occur on or after November 30, 2026. That is the earliest date the university may transfer the remains to an approved requestor.
Process and eligibility for repatriation requests
If you are the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, a lineal descendant, or another tribe or organization that can show by a preponderance of the evidence cultural affiliation, you may send a written request for repatriation to Megon Noble, Repatriation Coordinator, University of California, Davis, 251 Mrak Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, email mnoble@ucdavis.edu. If competing requests are received, UC Davis must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request, and UC Davis will send a copy of this notice to the identified tribes and consulting parties.
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Previous: 2026-22152, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Santa Barbara, Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, Santa Barbara, CA
The University of California, Santa Barbara has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians. These remains belong to two Native American individuals and could be returned to the tribe starting November 30, 2026. If you’re part of the tribe or a related group, you can ask to have these remains sent back by contacting UCSB.
Next: 2026-22154, Notice of Inventory Completion: California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
California State University, Stanislaus has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes near the Columbia River, Oregon. Starting November 30, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes or Native Hawaiian groups connected to them. This process helps honor and respect Native cultures without any cost or risk involved.