California University Identifies Remains for Return to Tribes
Published Date: 10/30/2026
Notice
Summary
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Four Native American Remains Eligible for Return
California State University, Stanislaus identified human remains representing at least four Native American individuals from near the Columbia River, Oregon. The University determined these remains are culturally affiliated with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and the remains may be repatriated on or after November 30, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation and Competing Claims
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes named in the notice or by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization (not named) that shows by a preponderance of the evidence cultural affiliation. If competing requests are received, California State University, Stanislaus must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request.
University Reports No Known Hazardous Treatment
The California State University, Stanislaus states it is unaware of any treatment of the human remains with pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that represent a potential hazard.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-22153, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
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.
Next: 2026-22155, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
The University of Rhode Island has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found a connection to certain Native tribes and are ready to return these remains starting November 30, 2026. This means tribes can now ask to have their ancestors’ remains and objects sent back, with no cost mentioned.