NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA

San José State University houses archaeological collections that contain human remains, artifacts, and funerary objects in consultation with Native American Tribes and Indigenous peoples. With the ultimate goal of complete repatriation, our campus is committed to compliance with federal and state laws including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA), California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001 (CalNAGPRA), California Assembly Bill 389 (“Native American Cultural Preservation”) of 2023, and the recently implemented CSU Systemwide NAGPRA Policy, which went into effect July 1, 2025.

The collections subject to NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA are housed in a secure facility on campus and are overseen by the Office of the Provost. Associated personnel include the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Vincent Del Casino, Repatriation Coordinator and Tribal Liaison Alisha Marie Ragland, and NAGPRA Specialist Charlotte Sunseri. 

San José State University consults with culturally affiliated Tribes about the care and repatriation of cultural remains and ancestors, in compliance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA. We respect the sovereignty of each Tribe, strive to build strong working relationships, and aim to address injustices regarding the historical collection of Tribes’ ancestors’ cultural and human remains.

Land Acknowledgement

We demonstrate our awareness and respect for these collections and their meaning by beginning all major meetings and conferences with our Land Acknowledgement.