Report 2022-107 Recommendation 6 Responses

Report 2022-107: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: The California State University Must Do More to Ensure the Timely Return of Native American Remains and Cultural Items to Tribes (Release Date: June 2023)

Recommendation #6 To: University, California State

To ensure that repatriation is a systemwide priority and that campuses have access to clear and consistent leadership related to NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA, the Chancellor's Office should, by December 2023, formalize its administrative structure, such as by assigning a position within its office the responsibility of directly overseeing the work of the systemwide CalNAGPRA project manager.

6-Month Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office has established a formal administrative structure by assigning responsibility of directly overseeing the work of the systemwide CalNAGPRA Project Manager to the External Relations Advocate in the Office of Advocacy and State Relations (ASR). Having the CalNAGPRA Project Manager in the ASR office respects Tribal sovereignty by ensuring a "government to government" function. In further commitment to the government-to-government relationship, the new Vice Chancellor for External Relations and Communications, for which the search is currently underway, will have responsibility for tribal relations oversight.

In addition, in August 2023, the former interim chancellor appointed CSU San Bernardino President Tomás Morales as the CSU Presidential Advisor to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees for Native American Initiatives. In this role, President Morales advises fellow CSU presidents and university system leadership to further develop respectful and culturally competent relationships with sovereign tribal nations. One of his priorities is to complete the repatriation activities required under NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA.

Further, to create a more robust infrastructure for complying with the repatriation requirements, the Chancellor's Office is planning for $4.25 million to fund 30 campus-based positions, three systemwide positions, and operating costs. Existing sources would cover $2.25 million, with an additional $2 million being requested from the Legislature.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The Chancellor's Office executive management is developing a plan to formalize its administrative structure related to NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2022-107

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.