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Exasperated and impatient California tribal leaders and lawmakers on Tuesday listened to state university system leaders lay out the steps they are taking to meet the requirements of 1990 and 2001 federal and state laws to return Native American human remains and artifacts to the appropriate tribes.
The hearing follows three scathing state audits of the University of California and California State University systems since 2019.
California’s state auditor has conducted three audits: a UC audit undertaken in 2019, a second UC review in 2021, and a CSU survey and report in 2022.
The CSU audit revealed collections of more than 700,000, although not all campuses had undertaken required inventories.
UC also held sizable collections, particularly on the UC Berkeley campus, and auditors reported additional collections were found as campuses reviewed their inventories.
Governmental institutions and museums are bound to return Native American human remains and artifacts by the 1990 federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, and its 2001 California counterpart, CalNAGPRA. Return of the items and human remains is described as repatriation.
The hearing was conducted by the Select Committee on Native American Affairs chaired by Assemblymember James C. Ramos and Assemblymember Gregg Hart, chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
“While I am pleased that at long last, the UC and CSU systems are beginning to establish policies to direct the return of our ancestors’ remains, both systems have significant work ahead of them to comply with their legal responsibilities,” said Ramos, who also chairs the California Native American Legislative Caucus. “The legislature will continue to aggressively monitor compliance and take steps to ensure the UC and CSU systems pursue compliance on a considerably quicker pace.”
He added that the remains and objects should not be treated as archeological or academic trophies because they are human remains of ancestors.
Redding Rancheria Chairman Jack Potter, who spoke at a news briefing on the subject, said, “If you want to study an Indian, I’m right here. It takes money to do a lot of things but it should just take your heart. You hear the heart of these people crying from these shelves,” referring to shelves where universities store remains in boxes.
Ramos noted that his bill, AB 226 requires additional audits of the UC system, and it strongly urges UC to make annual reports to the legislature about its NAGPRA compliance.
He also cited AB 389 that required the CSUs to undertake the recommendations proposed by the state auditor in their 2022 review of the system. Both measures were signed in 2023.
In addition to Potter, other tribal leaders testifying at the oversight hearing included Lynn Valbuena, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Charles Martin from Morongo Band of Mission Indians; Leo Sisco, chair, Tachi Yokut Tribe; Councilmember Catalina Chacon, Pechanga Band of Indians; Lorelle Ross, vice chair emeritus, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and Tribal Governance and Indian Child Welfare Act consultant; and Buffy McQuillen, tribal heritage preservation officer, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
UC and CSU witnesses included CSU Chancellor Mildred García; California State University, Chico President Steve Perez; UC Vice President for Research and Innovation Teresa Maldonado; UC Executive Director of Research, Policy Analysis & Coordination Deborah Motton; UC System-wide Repatriation Coordinator Glenys Echavarri; UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard Lyons and UC Berkeley Director of Repatriation Alex Lucas.
The hearing follows three scathing state audits of the University of California and California State University systems since 2019.
California’s state auditor has conducted three audits: a UC audit undertaken in 2019, a second UC review in 2021, and a CSU survey and report in 2022.
The CSU audit revealed collections of more than 700,000, although not all campuses had undertaken required inventories.
UC also held sizable collections, particularly on the UC Berkeley campus, and auditors reported additional collections were found as campuses reviewed their inventories.
Governmental institutions and museums are bound to return Native American human remains and artifacts by the 1990 federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, and its 2001 California counterpart, CalNAGPRA. Return of the items and human remains is described as repatriation.
The hearing was conducted by the Select Committee on Native American Affairs chaired by Assemblymember James C. Ramos and Assemblymember Gregg Hart, chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
“While I am pleased that at long last, the UC and CSU systems are beginning to establish policies to direct the return of our ancestors’ remains, both systems have significant work ahead of them to comply with their legal responsibilities,” said Ramos, who also chairs the California Native American Legislative Caucus. “The legislature will continue to aggressively monitor compliance and take steps to ensure the UC and CSU systems pursue compliance on a considerably quicker pace.”
He added that the remains and objects should not be treated as archeological or academic trophies because they are human remains of ancestors.
Redding Rancheria Chairman Jack Potter, who spoke at a news briefing on the subject, said, “If you want to study an Indian, I’m right here. It takes money to do a lot of things but it should just take your heart. You hear the heart of these people crying from these shelves,” referring to shelves where universities store remains in boxes.
Ramos noted that his bill, AB 226 requires additional audits of the UC system, and it strongly urges UC to make annual reports to the legislature about its NAGPRA compliance.
He also cited AB 389 that required the CSUs to undertake the recommendations proposed by the state auditor in their 2022 review of the system. Both measures were signed in 2023.
In addition to Potter, other tribal leaders testifying at the oversight hearing included Lynn Valbuena, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Charles Martin from Morongo Band of Mission Indians; Leo Sisco, chair, Tachi Yokut Tribe; Councilmember Catalina Chacon, Pechanga Band of Indians; Lorelle Ross, vice chair emeritus, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and Tribal Governance and Indian Child Welfare Act consultant; and Buffy McQuillen, tribal heritage preservation officer, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
UC and CSU witnesses included CSU Chancellor Mildred García; California State University, Chico President Steve Perez; UC Vice President for Research and Innovation Teresa Maldonado; UC Executive Director of Research, Policy Analysis & Coordination Deborah Motton; UC System-wide Repatriation Coordinator Glenys Echavarri; UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard Lyons and UC Berkeley Director of Repatriation Alex Lucas.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
On Tuesday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced his appointment to the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Review Board.
“As the father of a deputy sheriff, I’ve seen firsthand the acts of bravery our nation’s law enforcement engage in each day. It’s only right that Congress recognizes all that these men and women risk in the line of duty,” said Thompson. “I’m honored to be appointed to the review board for the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Award.”
Congress passed the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act in 2008, establishing an award to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by members of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement.
The act created the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery and the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery awards.
Medals are awarded annually by the U.S. attorney general and are presented by the recipients' Congressional representatives.
To meet the definition of an act of bravery, nominees for the Congressional Badge of Bravery must have either:
Sustained a physical injury while engaged in the lawful duties of the individual, and performing an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination, and being at personal risk; or
Although not injured, performed an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination that placed the individual at risk of serious physical injury or death.
Each award’s Board reviews nominations, makes recommendations for recipients to the Attorney General, and addresses other responsibilities required under the Congressional Badge of Bravery Act.
Thompson was honored to be jointly appointed to the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Review Board by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Speaker Mike Johnson. He will serve a two-year term.
“As the father of a deputy sheriff, I’ve seen firsthand the acts of bravery our nation’s law enforcement engage in each day. It’s only right that Congress recognizes all that these men and women risk in the line of duty,” said Thompson. “I’m honored to be appointed to the review board for the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Award.”
Congress passed the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act in 2008, establishing an award to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by members of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement.
The act created the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery and the State and Local Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery awards.
Medals are awarded annually by the U.S. attorney general and are presented by the recipients' Congressional representatives.
To meet the definition of an act of bravery, nominees for the Congressional Badge of Bravery must have either:
Sustained a physical injury while engaged in the lawful duties of the individual, and performing an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination, and being at personal risk; or
Although not injured, performed an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination that placed the individual at risk of serious physical injury or death.
Each award’s Board reviews nominations, makes recommendations for recipients to the Attorney General, and addresses other responsibilities required under the Congressional Badge of Bravery Act.
Thompson was honored to be jointly appointed to the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Review Board by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Speaker Mike Johnson. He will serve a two-year term.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Area Town Hall, or MATH, will meet this week to discuss roads, projects and reports.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Middletown Community Meeting Room/Library at 21256 Washington St., Middletown. The meeting is open to the public.
To join the meeting via Zoom click on this link; the meeting ID is 869-1824-5695, pass code is 808449. Call in at 669-900-6833.
On the agenda is a state highway update from Caltrans and a county roads update from new Lake County Public Works Director Glen March.
MATH also will discuss whether to continue offering meetings via Zoom and consider the annual report to the Board of Supervisors, due in December.
In other business, MATH will discuss correspondence regarding the Guenoc Valley Project, the public comment period for its updated draft environmental impact report ending Sept. 3, as well as a letter from the Land Trust regarding Rabbit Hill and the general plan and area plan committee updates.
MATH — established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 — is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
For more information emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
MATH will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Middletown Community Meeting Room/Library at 21256 Washington St., Middletown. The meeting is open to the public.
To join the meeting via Zoom click on this link; the meeting ID is 869-1824-5695, pass code is 808449. Call in at 669-900-6833.
On the agenda is a state highway update from Caltrans and a county roads update from new Lake County Public Works Director Glen March.
MATH also will discuss whether to continue offering meetings via Zoom and consider the annual report to the Board of Supervisors, due in December.
In other business, MATH will discuss correspondence regarding the Guenoc Valley Project, the public comment period for its updated draft environmental impact report ending Sept. 3, as well as a letter from the Land Trust regarding Rabbit Hill and the general plan and area plan committee updates.
MATH — established by resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12, 2006 — is a municipal advisory council serving the residents of Anderson Springs, Cobb, Coyote Valley (including Hidden Valley Lake), Long Valley and Middletown.
For more information email
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A new statewide program has begun to encourage local engagement to make communities cleaner, safer and more sustainable, with a Lake County community among the first group in the state to join.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced the launch of the Clean California Community Designation Program.
The innovative program — in partnership with Caltrans, Keep America Beautiful, and Keep California Beautiful — is the latest feature of Clean California, the governor’s sweeping $1.2 billion, multiyear initiative led by Caltrans to clean up, reclaim, transform and beautify public spaces.
“For the past three years, Clean California has transformed littered areas around our state into cleaner, greener, and safer spaces. Now, more than twenty communities are stepping up and committing to do the same – becoming our state’s first Clean California Communities. We all deserve to be proud of the neighborhoods we live in, and with this program, we’re making that a reality for more Californians than ever,” said Newsom.
Last week, Newsom marked three years of Clean California. The Clean California program has created 18,000 jobs and hauled away more than 2.6 million cubic yards of litter — enough to cover nine lanes of Interstate 5 with an inch of trash from San Diego to the Canadian border.
The Clean California Community Designation Program highlights localities committed to a number of long-term, zero-litter policies designed to engage residents in supporting community beautification and environmental enhancement.
Each municipality must complete 10 of 15 specific criteria to earn the designation. So far, 22 communities have taken this first step.
Among that first group of communities is Clearlake Oaks.
Other communities in the first group are Carmel-by-the-Sea, Bakersfield, Fresno, Irvine, Palmdale, Riverside, San Jose, Needles, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Edwards AFB in Kern County, Goshen, San Diego, Sacramento, San Diego, Oakland, Los Angeles, Pacific Grove, West Athens in Los Angeles, San Jose and Yuba City.
Caltrans Deputy Director Mike Keever said the designation spotlights communities that are zero-litter leaders with a vision for a better tomorrow. These leaders understand the long-term benefits to clean communities, and we applaud them for their efforts.”
Clean California Designation Program criteria include a commitment from top local officials, a litter abatement plan, regular local cleanups and litter collection drives, establishing measurements tracking litter removal, and engaging local stakeholders and businesses.
In return, designated communities receive “Clean California Community” signage, educational resources, free cleanup kits, cross-promotional Clean California materials, and priority access to Keep America Beautiful national grant opportunities.
The program’s goal is to enlist 100 communities by June 2025. For more information or an application for the Clean California Designation Program, visit https://cleanca.com/designation/.
For other ways to help clean up your own community or to list a cleanup event, visit the volunteer page at https://cleanca.com/get-involved/.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports