Red Rock Canyon Collection Moves Toward Tribal Repatriation
Published Date: 11/12/2026
Notice
Summary
Antelope Valley College has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and burial items found at Red Rock Canyon Rockshelter in California. These remains and objects are linked to local Native tribes, and they can be returned starting December 14, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the college’s anthropology department—no money changes hands, just respect and care.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Repatriation available beginning December 14, 2026
If you are an affiliated Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, or a lineal descendant, human remains and associated funerary objects may be returned starting on or after December 14, 2026. Antelope Valley College identified human remains representing at least two individuals and three lots of associated funerary objects from the Red Rock Canyon Rockshelter (CA-KER-147/AVC-12) and Bakersfield (CA-KER-676/AVC-176) sites; written requests must be sent to Dr. Darcy L. Wiewall, Antelope Valley College, Department of Anthropology, 3041 W Ave. K, Lancaster, CA 93536 (email provided in the notice).
Who may request repatriation
The notice says repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice. It also allows any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in the notice to request repatriation if they show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are culturally affiliated.
How competing repatriation claims are handled
If more than one request for repatriation is received, Antelope Valley College must decide which requestor is most appropriate before repatriation occurs. The notice also states that requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request and are not competing requests.
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