CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy | CSU CalNAGPRA and NAGPRA

Interim Systemwide NAGPRA Policy

The California State University (CSU) is honored to unveil the inaugural Systemwide Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Policy—a historic and long-overdue step toward fulfilling our responsibilities to California Native American Tribes and Native American Tribes nationwide. This policy reflects our deep commitment to ethical stewardship, cultural accountability, and the respectful return of Ancestors and cultural items held across the CSU. We extend our sincere thanks to the many Tribal Leaders and representatives, cultural practitioners, and staff members who attended one or more of our 24 outreach sessions or provided feedback during the development of this policy. Your guidance has been instrumental.

At the recommendation of the Native American Heritage Commission, the policy has been adopted in interim status to allow for further Tribal consultation. Additional Tribal outreach sessions will be announced shortly. In the meantime, we welcome your input and encourage you to share feedback through the feedback form on this website or by emailing nagpra@calstate.edu. The CSU will revisit and revise the policy, ensuring it is grounded in the voices and priorities of California Native Nations. This is only the beginning of a longer journey, and we are honored to walk it in partnership with Native communities.

Interim Policy

Interim CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy

Interim Policy Resources

External Relations & Communications Division Organizational Chart.pdf (pdf)

Held-in-Trust Agreement Template.pdf (pdf)

Inadvertent Discovery Policy Template.pdf (pdf)

Sample Campus Department-Unit Self-Assessment.pdf (pdf)

National NAGPRA Steps to Repatriation.pdf (pdf)

Sample Campus Repatriation Implementation Plan.pdf (pdf)

Transfer of Custody Agreement for Reburial of Ancestral Remains Template.pdf (pdf)

CSU Policy Working Group Members.pdf (pdf)

We welcome feedback from any interested parties. The feedback button below will direct you to the feedback form for the Interim CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy. We also welcome your feedback via email at nagpra@calstate.edu.

Feedback This link will take you to an external website in a new tab.

One-on-One Consultation

The Chancellor's Office welcomes California Tribal Nations requests for One-on-One consultation sessions. To submit a request, please email nagpra@calstate.edu.

Policy Development History

In late 2023, a working group consisting of Tribal repatriation practitioners, CSU staff, and state representatives was established by the Chancellor's Office to develop a working draft policy as a starting point for discussion during Tribal consultations. Ten statewide listening sessions and several consultations with individual Tribes were held before drafting the Working Draft Policy for Tribal Consultation Purposes.

On July 2, 2024, the working draft policy was sent to the Tribes on the NAHC’s CalNAGPRA statewide contact list along with a letter from Chancellor García notifying the Tribes of the Chancellor’s Office's intention to hold consultations through fall 2024. The Chancellor’s letter and the working draft policy are available below.

On August 13, 2024, a second notification letter from Chancellor García was sent to the Tribes on the NAHC’s CalNAGPRA contact list. The letter included optional ways to provide feedback on the working draft policy including the Feedback button below, and participation in virtual outreach sessions. Chancellor’s Office officials also held in-person outreach sessions in Chico and the San Diego area. The Chancellor’s second notification letter and the working draft policy are available below.

On January 17, 2025, the newly established Office of Tribal Relations in the Chancellor's Office presented the Draft CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy to the Commissioners of the NAHC during their public meeting. The draft policy was emailed to all Tribes on the NAHC Statewide CalNAGPRA Contact List and included a cover letter from Samantha Cypret, Executive Director, Office of Tribal Relations. The cover letter and draft policy are available below.

Following a 90-day consultation period, six Tribal outreach sessions, and multiple Tribal consultation sessions, all submitted comments and feedback were reviewed and incorporated where applicable into the second Draft CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy. The second draft policy was emailed to all Tribes on the NAHC Statewide CalNAGPRA Contact List and included a cover letter from Executive Director Cypret. The letter and draft policy are available below.

On May 9, 2025, the CSU initiated a 30-day consultation period for the second Draft CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy during which five Tribal outreach sessions, three in-person and two virtual, were held. All submitted comments and feedback were reviewed and incorporated where applicable into the interim CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy, available above.