UCSD - University of California - San Diego
08/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/27/2026 03:13
In Sacramento and On Campus, UC San Diego Strengthens Native Partnerships
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"Change comes with action, not words."
This sentiment, shared by Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla in Sacramento, guides UC San Diego's commitment to honoring the Indigenous people on whose ancestral homeland the university currently resides.
On August 4, Chancellor Khosla testified before California's Select Committee on Native American Affairs and Joint Legislative Audit Committee alongside representatives from the University of California. The hearing focused on the system's efforts to align with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and CalNAGPRA.
The California State Legislature has committed to repatriation - the return of Native American human remains and cultural items to their tribe or Native Nation - through 2020's AB 275 and 2023's AB 226 and AB 389. These bills require the University of California and California State University systems to comply with stronger repatriation requirements and annual reporting and accountability measures.
UC San Diego's Commitment to Repatriation
In his testimony, Khosla relayed the high-priority areas on which UC San Diego is concentrating its efforts:
- Expanding Operations: Adding experienced personnel to support the university's existing Repatriation Coordinator Eva Trujillo '20 (Siny 'Iipay, Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians)
- Comprehensive Reviews: Conducting 40 extensive in-person reviews of faculty labs and storage spaces to identify and report any previously undiscovered items that are potentially cultural
- Direct Consultation: Proactive outreach to tribes, Native Nations and the UC San Diego community
UC San Diego's commitment to expeditious repatriation has led to enormous progress. Since 2021, UC San Diego has repatriated 73 percent of Native American human remains in total, including 713 ancestors, and approximately 53 percent of cultural items (525 associated funerary objects, 12,675 unassociated funerary objects, 347 objects of cultural patrimony and four sacred objects).
Khosla emphasized that UC San Diego intends to build upon its progress while recognizing that change is a continuous process. He shared, "I remain committed to supporting and strengthening our repatriation efforts so that we can honor the ancestors and cultural items by returning them to the rightful Native American Nations."
Beyond Repatriation: Deepening Native Partnerships
UC San Diego's investment in the Indigenous communities extends far beyond legislative compliance, supporting Indigenous health, storytelling and leadership across the campus and region. This includes:
Training for UC San Diego Community
Repatriation Coordinator Eva Trujillo '20 (Siny 'Iipay, Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians), under Chancellor Khosla's direction with UC San Diego's Office of Organizational Transformation, developed the university's groundbreaking Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Compliance Training.
Created in direct collaboration with the local Tribal community, this training advances campuswide awareness of and strengthens adherence to NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA standards, aligning with the Chancellor's vision of stronger and more reciprocal relationships with San Diego's Native and Indigenous communities.
This training, accessible to anyone with UC credentials through an online learning platform, is the first of its kind in the University of California system. It focuses on creating a shared understanding of NAGPRA's basic requirements for reporting the research and collection of Native American and Native Hawaiian cultural resources.
Indigenous Futures Institute
Established in 2020, the Indigenous Futures Institute (IFI) in the UC San Diego Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science builds Native health capacity through respectful research and community partnerships. Led by Executive Director Chag Lowry (Yurok/Maidu/Pit River), the Institute uplifts Indigenous knowledge, cultural practices and stewardship by amplifying the work of community knowledge-keepers.
- Indigi-Con and Symposiums: Every July during San Diego Comic-Con, Indigi-Con honors Indigenous creativity with a three-day festival at UC San Diego's Park and Market. Organized by the IFI, the event brings together creators, culture-keepers and fans for panels, exhibitions and conversations about Native futurism and ancestral storytelling. In February 2026, the Indigenous Futures Institute partnered with the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and the Eyaay Ahuun Foundation to host the Indigi-Con Creators Symposium, a celebration of local history and Indigenous storytelling held on Native land. The symposium was the first in California to be hosted by a local Tribe.
- Tribal Leadership Gatherings: In December 2025, the IFI hosted "All Together Now: California Native Women's Leadership." This on-campus symposium strengthened cultural and professional networks among Native nations across California. It featured panelists such as Chairwoman of the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation Angela Elliott-Santos, California Rural Indian Health Board Executive Director Virginia Hedrick and Alison Richardson '24, who shared their work, personal perspectives and insights on how UC San Diego can be a meaningful partner to local Tribes and Native families.
Campus Community and Academic Pathways
- Intertribal Resource Center: UC San Diego's Intertribal Resource Center (ITRC) is one of seven campus community centers led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Organizational Transformation. Open to all community members, the ITRC grounds its work in an Indigenous lens. Through programs, events and resources, the ITRC is a hub for all things Indigenous, offering community, conversation and individualized support.
- PRIME-TIDE: The Program in Medical Education - Transforming Indigenous Doctor Education (PRIME-TIDE) prepares UC San Diego School of Medicine students for careers providing healthcare and advancing health equity among Native populations.
- Native American and Indigenous Studies: Housed in the Department of Ethnic Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) offers an undergraduate minor and a Graduate Certificate.
- Native American Student Organizations: Open to all students, multiple Native American student organizations create a sense of place and community for Tritons.
Looking ahead, Chancellor Khosla acknowledged that, while UC San Diego has made good progress in supporting its Indigenous ancestors and current community members, repatriation is a continuous duty: "I am committed to this work, the Native Nations, and the ancestors who are waiting to be returned home."
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