In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Sonoma State University is planning to return cultural items to Native American tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. These items, referred to as unassociated funerary objects, were previously collected from various archaeological sites in Sonoma County, California. The university identified a cultural connection to the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria, California, and has initiated the process for repatriation. Competing claims must be resolved by Sonoma State University, which will send the relevant notice to interested parties.
Simple Explanation
Sonoma State University is giving back special objects, like tools and stones, to a Native American tribe because they belong to them. The university is making sure they go to the right people, and they are letting others who think they should get the objects speak up too.