Repatriation
May 7, 2026

UC Davis restricts use of Native artifacts without tribal approval

University cites compliance with federal and state repatriation laws


May 7, 2026

The University of California, Davis reminded faculty that Native American cultural items cannot be used in classrooms or research without tribal and university approval, according to The College Fix. In a campus message, Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan said the policy applies across the University of California system and is intended to ensure compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and related state laws, which require institutions to return ancestral human remains and certain cultural items to tribes.

The policy prohibits the use of Native American or Native Hawaiian human remains and cultural items in instruction or research without approval and requires consultation with tribes on care and storage of items that have not been repatriated. Campuses also must review collections and establish reporting systems for concerns about the treatment of cultural items, Croughan wrote.

  1. 1.Micaiah Bilger. The College Fix, .

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