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In 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed by Congress. To comply with NAGPRA, any institution that accepts Federal funding and is in possession of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, are required to return items back to the Federally recognized lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

The California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001 (CalNAGPRA) established that all California institutions that receive State funding and are in possession of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, are required to return items back to the unrecognized Indian Tribes of California.

Cal State Monterey Bay is currently in the Consultation process.

Consultation: As defined under federal NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA , consultation means the exchange of information, open discussion and joint deliberations among parties in good-faith to:

(1) Seek, discuss and consider the views of all parties
(2) Strive for consensus, agreement or mutually acceptable alternatives
(3) Enable meaningful consideration of the Native American traditional knowledge of lineal descendants, Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations

Travel & Visit Requests

Cal State Monterey Bay provides compensation to consulting Tribes for their time and participation. The university offers honoraria for up to four representatives per Tribe for up to two days of consultation.

Tribal representatives who wish to request consultation, schedule a campus visit or coordinate travel and logistical needs should contact the Cultural Heritage Office. The office will work collaboratively with Tribal representatives to arrange visit details, including scheduling, campus access and related accommodations.

For additional information or to initiate a consultation or visit request, complete the or contact the Cultural Heritage Office.

Federal and State Notices
911ºÚÁϱ¬ÁÏÍø is actively consulting with culturally affiliated and potentially affiliated Tribes to complete and update inventories and summaries of Native American Ancestral Remains and cultural items in the university’s possession.

Inventories and summaries submitted to the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) are publicly available on the .

Submissions made to the National NAGPRA Program can be accessed through the .

Notice of Intended Repatriation (NIR) - Oct. 1, 2025

Cal State Monterey Bay follows the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (CalNAGPRA), and the CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy in the care, consultation and repatriation of Native American Ancestral Remains and Cultural Items. The general process includes the following steps:

Inventory and identification
The university conducts inventories and reviews of collections to identify Native American Ancestral Remains and Cultural Items in its possession or control. This includes review of available records and relevant documentation.

Tribal consultation
The Cultural Heritage Office consults with Tribal Nations to share information, seek guidance and support the identification and cultural affiliation of items. Consultation is an ongoing, collaborative process conducted in accordance with applicable laws and policy.

Determination and documentation
Based on available evidence and consultation, the university makes determinations regarding cultural affiliation or appropriate disposition. Documentation is prepared in accordance with federal and state law and CSU policy.

Notice and claim process
When appropriate, the university facilitates the notice and claims process, allowing Tribal Nations to submit requests for repatriation in accordance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA requirements.

Repatriation and transfer
Upon completion of the required process, the university coordinates the respectful return of Native American Ancestral Remains and Cultural Items to affiliated Tribal Nations.

For more information or to initiate consultation, contact the Cultural Heritage Office.

This confidential form is for reporting concerns about potential violations of the NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA at Cal State Monterey Bay.

Tribal Nations may submit an appeal or dispute regarding a university determination, identification, repatriation or transfer of Native American Ancestral Remains or Cultural Items.

Appeals are reviewed in accordance with the and applicable federal and state law.

Appeals may be submitted by completing the Appeals Form. The form may be submitted anonymously.

Appeals may also be submitted directly to the Cultural Heritage Office by email or mail:

Jordan Leininger
Cultural Heritage Collections Manager and Repatriation Coordinator
Building 508
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
jleininger@csumb.edu

Cal State Monterey Bay maintains a Campus NAGPRA Committee in accordance with the CSU Systemwide Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Policy. The committee supports the university’s responsibilities related to the care, consultation and repatriation of Native American Ancestral Remains and Cultural Items.

The Campus NAGPRA Committee is established through the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) and includes representatives appointed in accordance with state and CSU requirements.

Current committee membership

• Tribal representative (non-federally recognized): Tom Little Bear Nason, Esselen Tribe of Monterey County (appointed Nov. 7, 2024)
• Tribal representative (federally recognized): Vacant
• Tribal representative (federally recognized): Vacant
• Tribal representative (federally recognized): Vacant
• CSU representative: Nizhoni Chow-Garcia (appointed Nov. 7, 2024)
• CSU representative: Vacant
• CSU Native American studies representative: Vacant

Information about the committee is available on the

Please check the California Native American Heritage Commission website to view filled and vacant positions for the CSU Systemwide Committee and each:

Tribal representatives interested in serving on the Campus NAGPRA Committee may apply through the CSU systemwide process administered by the NAHC. Additional information and application instructions are available on the

For questions about the Campus NAGPRA Committee or its role, contact the Cultural Heritage Office.