In a recent government meeting, officials from the University of California (UC) system reiterated their commitment to repatriating Native American and Native Hawaiian ancestral remains and cultural items, acknowledging past violations of indigenous rights. The university's leadership expressed deep remorse for acquiring these items without the necessary consent from tribal nations, emphasizing their dedication to aligning with the legal frameworks established by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and California's own repatriation laws (Cal NAGPRA).

UC's Vice President, who led the discussion, highlighted significant policy changes aimed at enhancing repatriation efforts. The university's repatriation policy, first adopted as an interim measure in June 2020 and finalized in January 2022, now prioritizes repatriation as a fundamental objective. This policy incorporates key elements from recent legislation, including a commitment to respect tribal traditional knowledge and a prohibition on the use of Native American remains and cultural items for research without explicit tribal authorization.

Financially, UC President Drake has allocated $10.4 million since November 2021 to support repatriation efforts, with an additional $5.7 million committed for the next three years. This funding is intended to facilitate campus-specific repatriation activities, which have seen a marked increase in consultations and repatriation actions since 2018.

The meeting also provided updates from various UC campuses on their repatriation progress. UC Davis reported the repatriation of 165 ancestral remains and approximately 9,000 cultural items, with plans to complete all known repatriations by June 2027. UC Riverside noted a 766% increase in published notices for repatriation, while UC Santa Barbara is finalizing an inventory of over 8,000 funerary objects for repatriation. UC San Diego has repatriated 484 ancestors and is preparing to return over 10,000 cultural items.

The university's leadership acknowledged the long road ahead in fully addressing the historical injustices faced by indigenous communities but emphasized their ongoing commitment to transparency and collaboration with tribal nations. A new online dashboard has been launched to track repatriation progress, reflecting UC's efforts to engage with and support tribal preferences for the care of ancestral remains and cultural items.

As the meeting concluded, officials reaffirmed their responsibility to rectify past harms and expedite the return of ancestral remains and cultural items to their rightful communities, marking a significant step in the university's journey toward reconciliation with Native American and Native Hawaiian peoples.