Committee Member Qualifications and NAHC Nomination Process

The Committees are composed of both UC and Native American representatives. All members must be reviewed and nominated by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) before appointment by the UC. The NAHC is continually accepting nominations for all positions. More information and application packets can be found on the NAHC's UC NAGPRA Implementation and Oversight Committee's web page.

Tribal Nominees

Tribal Nominees must be a member of a federally or non-federally recognized California Indian tribe as defined by Section 8012 of the Health and Safety Code, and have at least five years of experience in any of the following:

  • Repatriation of human remains and cultural items pursuant to the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act;
  • Cultural resources protection under tribal, state, and federal law; or
  • Consultation with state and federal entities and agencies.

Note: One member of each Committee must be from a tribe not which is not recognized by the federal government, but which is located in California and on the contact list maintained by the NAHC for the purposes of consultation pursuant to Section 65352.3 of the Government Code.

UC Nominees

UC Nominees must be affiliated with or employed by the University of California and have the following:

  1. A graduate degree in any of the following: Archaeology, Anthropology, Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Law, Sociology, Environmental Studies, or History, with a focus in California; and
  2. A minimum of five years’ experience working in his or her field of study.

Note: At least two UC members of the Systemwide Committee and one UC member of each Campus Committee must be affiliated with an American Indian or Native American Studies program.

Preference will be given to members "who have demonstrated, through their professional experience, the ability to work in collaboration with Native American tribes successfully on issues related to repatriation or museum collection management" (Health & Safety Code §8026(c)(2)).