Many people are unaware that Native American gravesites were being raided as late as the 1970s. This will be another tool we can use to bring our ancestors back to the land where their lives began. The hearing, which was held on the Barona Indian Reservation outside of San Diego, was also the first-ever State Assembly hearing to be held on an Indian Reservation. Through AB 978, we are seeking to provide a seamless and consistent state policy to ensure that Native American remains and artifacts are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. The law also requires that these agencies notify Native Americans that may be affiliated with the items, and return the items to their descendants.
Repatriation is a complex issue.
Institutions often cite lack of resources as the reason they are unable to comply in a timely manner, and we believe that having a state law will help to cut through some of the red tape and speed up the process. AB 978 streamlines and adds an accountability step to the repatriation process. The Commission would also serve to mediate disputes between California tribes and museums and agencies, as well as disputes arising between Tribes and those entities relating to the disposition of human skeletal remains and funerary objects. The committee also supports other Tribes in organizing at the national and state levels to facilitate the repatriation process.