Universities face pressure to return Native remains and artifacts
Federal law requires repatriation, but audits show delays and gaps at major institutions
Universities and museums across the United States continue to hold Native American burial artifacts, sacred objects and human remains acquired without consent, according to an article in The Conversation by Kerri J. Malloy (Yurok/Karuk), assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies, San José State University.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 requires federally funded institutions to identify items, consult with tribes and return them to descendants and Native communities, according to Malloy.
The University of California has repatriated thousands of remains and cultural items but still holds many more, according to a 2025 state audit cited in the article. The audit found gaps in oversight, incomplete tracking and delays that could extend repatriation timelines by more than a decade. Tribal leaders and auditors have raised concerns about the pace of returns, while institutions said they are updating plans and policies to meet legal requirements.
- 1.Kerri J. Malloy. The Conversation, .
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