Two bills signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, will hold California university systems accountable for the proper repatriation of Native American human remains and other cultural items to the appropriate Native American tribes. The 1990 federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGRPRA) and its 2001 state counterpart, CalNAGPRA, require government entities, including universities, return Native American remains and artifacts be returned to appropriate tribes. The need for bills signed into law on Tuesday gained attention in June when an auditor’s report cited the CSU system’s lapses and blunders in failing to ensure the timely return of Native American remains and cultural objects.
Tribal leaders and educators gathered on Tuesday to discuss how to prepare for AB 1703, the California Indian Education Act, which will take effect in January and that encourages local school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to engage with regional Native American tribes to develop curriculum and discuss issues of concern.