California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001: California State University: burial sites: human remains.
The passage of AB 977 would likely have significant implications for how California institutions manage Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. By formalizing a process for consultation with tribal authorities and establishing designated burial sites, the bill ensures that Native American communities play a central role in practices pertaining to the respectful handling and interment of their ancestors' remains. Such a policy could strengthen CSU's commitment to upholding the cultural heritage of California's Indigenous populations.
Assembly Bill 977, introduced by Assembly Member Ramos, seeks to amend the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001 by adding Section 8028.73 to the Health and Safety Code. This legislation is designed to enhance the repatriation and respectful burial of Native American human remains by the California State University (CSU). The bill mandates that CSU, in consultation with California Indian tribes, develop a policy to identify available burial sites on CSU-owned land and designate three such sites across the state's northern, central, and southern regions.
While the bill aims to foster a collaborative approach between educational institutions and Native American tribes, it may also raise concerns among stakeholders about compliance and implementation. Some tribal leaders may worry about the adequacy of consultations and whether the designated sites will truly reflect tribal preferences and cultural practices. Furthermore, the requirement for public hearings to establish these policies could lead to additional bureaucratic challenges, which some may view as a potential barrier to timely action on issues of cultural significance.