The Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology at the University of Idaho has completed an inventory and determined that certain human remains are affiliated with several Native American Tribes in California. These remains were originally discovered in the 1950s and 1960s in California, and were later transported to the University of Idaho, where they were re-discovered in 2024. The University plans to repatriate these remains to the affiliated tribes after April 17, 2025, as part of their responsibilities under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The tribes eligible for repatriation include several California Indian Tribes, such as the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians and the Tule River Indian Tribe.
Simple Explanation
The University of Idaho found old bones that belong to Native American tribes, and they plan to give them back. But there are some questions about how the bones got to the university and if they talked to the right people about giving them back.