California State Parks Repatriates Cultural Items to Big Valley Tribe

California State Parks has completed the repatriation of 21 baskets, regalia, and other cultural items to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Big Valley) under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). This significant event marks a major step towards the return of ancestral and cultural items to their rightful communities. Big Valley Tribal Chairman Flaman McCloud Jr. expressed his gratitude, stating that the repatriation is an honor for the community, as the cultural items are integral to Pomo culture, identity, and connect the community to their ancestors.

Key Takeaways:

• The repatriation was conducted as part of State Parks' compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
• 21 baskets, regalia, and other cultural items were repatriated to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians on July 23.
• The cultural items have been in the State Indian Museum State Historic Park since 1880, obtained by a private collector, and 1960, purchased by State Parks for display.
• State Parks' NAGPRA program has repatriated cultural items to the Big Valley tribe, marked as the State Indian Museum's first repatriation in over a decade.
• The repatriation process is a significant step towards fulfilling the NAGPRA law, which requires agencies and institutions to return Native American ancestors and cultural items to their rightful communities.
• The State Indian Museum has created a new exhibit, Welcomed Home: A Celebration, about NAGPRA to educate and inform the public about the joy and empowerment of repatriation.
• Big Valley Tribal Members and State Parks staff bowed their heads while Chairman McCloud sang a prayer in Pomo over the items, marking the first time some of the cultural items had heard their language in over a century.

Statistics:

• 21 cultural items were repatriated to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
• The State Indian Museum has displayed cultural items obtained as early as 1880 and purchased in 1960 for display.
• It took over a decade for the State Indian Museum to undergo its first repatriation under NAGPRA.
• The State Indian Museum has a new exhibit, Welcomed Home: A Celebration, to communicate the importance of repatriation.

Sources:

• California State Parks news release.
• Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
• State Parks' NAGPRA webpage