Public Meeting Notice and Agenda – January 16, 2026

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION
Office Phone (916) 373-3710
Email: nahc@nahc.ca.gov

Location:
East End Complex
1500 Capitol Ave
Room: Auditorium
Sacramento, CA 95814

Friday, January 16, 2026
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Notices, agendas, and supporting documents for Native American Heritage Commission Meetings and public hearings will be provided at the event and may also be accessed at https://nahc.ca.gov or by written request to nahc@nahc.ca.gov. Confidential materials exempt.

Live video streaming and archived video of this Commission Meeting may be accessed at
https://videobookcase.org/nahc/2026-01-16/

Agenda items may be taken out of order.

AGENDA

10:00 AM – CALL TO ORDER – NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION

  1. Welcome
  2. Roll Call
  3. Introduction of Commissioners and Staff
  4. Traditional Opening

ACTION

1. Approval of Meeting Minutes (Chairperson Pagaling)

a) December 11, 2025, Special Meeting: Open Session

2. Calendar Dates and Locations for April and July 2026 Commission Meetings, (Andrew Alejandre, Executive Secretary)

a) Friday, April 17, 2026 – Location Sacramento

b) Friday, July 17, 2026 – Location Sacramento

3. CSU Systemwide/Campus Repatriation and Oversight Committee Nominations (Mario Pallari, Staff Counsel)

CSU San Francisco

a) Commission to consider the nomination of Abel Gomez, CSU Representative, CSU San Francisco

CSU Sonoma

b) Commission to consider the nomination of Natasha Medel, Federally Recognized Tribal Representative, CSU Sonoma

c) Commission to consider the nomination of James Mestaz, CSU Representative, CSU Sonoma

CSU San Bernadino

d) Commission to consider the nomination of Molly Springer, CSU Representative, CSU San Bernadino

CSU Systemwide

e) Commission to consider the nomination of Radley Davis, Federally Recognized Tribal Representative, CSU Systemwide

4. UC Campus Repatriation and Oversight Committee Nominations (Mario Pallari, Staff Counsel)

UC Santa Cruz

a) Commission to consider the nomination of Dr. Tsim Schneider, Federally Recognized Tribal Representative, UC Santa Cruz

5. California State University (CSU) Chancellor’s Office updates regarding AB 389 compliance, including Systemwide Policy Development (Samantha Cypret, Executive Director, Office of Tribal Relations, Office of the Chancellor, California State University)

6. CalNAGPRA Mediation and Dispute Resolution Regulations (Michelle Carr, Chief Counsel)

a) Status of draft CalNAGPRA Mediation and Dispute Resolution Regulations

i. Revised regulatory language
ii. Description of specific regulatory edits
iii.Notice of Modifications to Text of Proposed Regulations
iv. Comments received during 15-day notice period and responses

b) Commission to consider adopting CalNAGPRA Mediation and Dispute Resolution Regulations

7. Draft CalNAGPRA Enforcement Regulations (Michelle Carr, Chief Counsel)

a) Status of draft CalNAGPRA Enforcement Regulations

i. Summary of tribal comments and responses
ii. Draft enforcement regulations
iii. Red-line comparison of current draft to October 10, 2025, draft

b) Commission to consider adopting CalNAGPRA Enforcement Regulations

c) Commission to consider authorizing staff to file the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Action with the Office of Administrative Law to begin the formal rulemaking process

i. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Action

INFORMATIONAL

8. Introduction of Department of Justice Office of Native Americans (Janet K. Bill – Director, Office of Native Americans at California Department of Justice)

9. Introduction of Christine Williams, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Native American and Tribal Affairs at California Department of Justice

10. Draft Contact List Regulations (Michelle Carr, Chief Counsel)

a) Roundtable listening sessions and consultations conducted to date

b) Availability of comments received to date

11. January 15, 2026, Sacred Lands File Workshop (Commissioners Isaac Bojorquez and Bennae Calac)

12. Executive Secretary Report (Andrew Alejandre, Executive Secretary)

13. Commissioner Reports

PUBLIC COMMENT – Public comment will be limited to 3 minutes for each speaker.

The public may comment on any item on the agenda before action is taken on the item.

4:00 PM – ADJOURNMENT – At the end of public comment or 4:00 pm, whichever is first.

*Any person who has a disability and requires accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the Native American Heritage Commission at (916) 373-3710 or via email at nahc@nahc.ca.gov no later than five days prior to the meeting. Our website address is: https://nahc.ca.gov.

NAHC Season’s Greetings

The Native American Heritage Commission wishes to express gratitude and a sincere seasonal greeting to all California tribal communities. May you and your loved one’s ring in an abundant, joyous, and safe new year! Warm wishes for peaceful and joyous days as we close out 2025.

Workshop Notice: Sacred Lands File

The Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) will be hosting an in-person workshop to review the Sacred Lands File (SLF) and what should accompany a submission to the SLF.

Date: January 15, 2026
Time: 11am – 1pm
Location: California Natural Resources Agency
715 P Street, Sacramento
Room: 221B

Commissioners and NAHC staff will discuss the purpose of the SLF, the current submission process, and the following question:

What documentation should be required to support a submission to the Sacred Lands File Inventory?

Tribal traditional knowledge
Tribal histories
Traditional stories
Ceremonies
Religious practices
Oral traditions
Treaties
Archeological and anthropological studies and reports
Scholarly histories
Documentation of oral testimony from tribal elders

PUBLIC COMMENT – Public comment will be taken at the end of the workshop and is limited to 3 minutes for each speaker.

*Any person who has a disability and requires accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the Native American Heritage Commission at (916) 373-3710 or via email at nahc@nahc.ca.gov no later than five days prior to the meeting. Our website address is: https://nahc.ca.gov.

Public Special Meeting Notice and Agenda – December 11, 2025

PUBLIC SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION
Office Phone (916) 373-3710
Email: nahc@nahc.ca.gov

Location:
Graton Resort and Casino
The Event
288 Golf Course Drive West
Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Thursday, December 11, 2025
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Notices, agendas, and supporting documents for Native American Heritage Commission Meetings and public hearings will be provided at the event and may also be accessed at https://nahc.ca.gov or by written request to nahc@nahc.ca.gov. Confidential materials exempt.

Live video streaming and archived video of this Commission Meeting may be accessed at
https://videobookcase.org/nahc/2025-12-11/

Agenda items may be taken out of order.

AGENDA

9:00 AM – CALL TO ORDER – NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION

  1. Welcome
  2. Roll Call
  3. Introduction of Commissioners and Staff
  4. Traditional Opening

ACTION

1. Approval of Meeting Minutes (Chairperson Pagaling)

a) October 10, 2025, Special Meeting: Open Session
b) October 10, 2025, Special Meeting: Closed Session

2. Adoption of modified CalNAGPRA Mediation and Dispute Resolution Regulations (Michelle Carr, Chief Counsel)

3. Commission to consider extending the tribal comment and consultation period for the revised draft Contact List Regulations for 45 days.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Public comment will be limited to 3 minutes for each speaker.

The public may comment on any item on the agenda before action is taken on the item.

11:00 AM – ADJOURNMENT – At the end of public comment or 11:00 am, whichever is first.

* Any person who has a disability and requires accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the Native American Heritage Commission at (916) 373-3710 or via email at nahc@nahc.ca.gov no later than five days prior to the meeting. Our website address is: https://nahc.ca.gov.

Job Announcement: Staff Services Manager I – Final Filing Date: 11/14/2025

Under the general direction of the NAHC Executive Secretary, the Staff Services Manager I (SSM I) will oversee all related aspects of the Environmental and Cultural Division (ECD). The SSM I will provide advice and analysis on topics relating to the ECD. The SSM I will support the NAHC as the main point of contact for intradepartmental projects impacting the ECD. The SSM I will be responsible for maintenance of the Native American Land Information System (NALIS) by obtaining and analyzing information provided by California Indian tribes and public agencies. The SSM I will ensure ECD staff fulfills the necessary statutory responsibilities under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The SSM I is assigned to direct and supervise ECD staff on the essential day-to-day programs, including but not limited to, the NAHC Sacred Lands File Inventory (SLF), NAHC Contact List, Most Likely Descendant (MLD) determinations, and the NALIS database.

 

To view the full job posting and application instructions, please visit: JC-497529 STAFF SERVICES MANAGER I

Executive Secretary Announcement

On Friday, October 17, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Andrew “Dru” Alejandre, of Corning, as Executive Secretary of the California Native American Heritage Commission. Alejandre has been Tribal Liaison at Emic Health Services since 2024 and Co-Founder and Vice President of the Tribal Leadership Council since 2024. He was the Chairman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians from 2016 to 2025, and Council Secretary from 2014 to 2016. Alejandre is the Board Chair of Tepa Companies and the Tribal Leadership Council Foundation. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Sacramento.

Public Special Meeting Notice and Agenda – October 10, 2025

PUBLIC SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA
CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION
Office Phone (916) 373-3710
Email: nahc@nahc.ca.gov

Location:
Paradise Event Center
450 Quechan Drive
Winterhaven, CA 92283

Friday, October 10, 2025
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Notices, agendas, and supporting documents for Native American Heritage Commission Meetings and public hearings will be provided at the event and may also be accessed at https://nahc.ca.gov or by written request to nahc@nahc.ca.gov. Confidential materials exempt.

Live video streaming and archived video of this Commission Meeting may be accessed at
https://videobookcase.org/nahc/2025-10-10/

Agenda items may be taken out of order.

AGENDA

10:00 AM – CALL TO ORDER – NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION

  1. Welcome
  2. Roll Call
  3. Introduction of Commissioners and Staff
  4. Traditional Opening

ACTION

1. Approval of Meeting Minutes (Chairperson Pagaling)

a) August 1, 2025, Special Meeting: Open Session

2. CSU Systemwide/Campus Repatriation and Oversight Committee Nominations (Mario Pallari, Staff Counsel)

CSU Bakersfield

a) Commission to consider the nomination of Larea Lewis, Federally Recognized Tribal Representative, CSU Bakersfield

CSU Los Angeles

b) Commission to consider the nomination of Carolyn Dunn, CSU Representative, CSU Los Angeles

c) Commission to consider the nomination of Tarisi Vunidilo, CSU Native American Studies Representative, Cal State Los Angeles

CSU Fresno

d) Commission to consider the nomination of Robert Gomez, Non-Federally Recognized Tribal Representative, CSU Fresno

Cal Poly Humboldt

e) Commission to consider the nomination of Lonyx Landry, Non-Federally Recognized Tribal Representative, Cal Poly Humboldt

CSU Systemwide

f) Commission to consider the nomination of Cutcha Risling Baldy, CSU Native American Studies Representative, CSU Systemwide

3. California State University (CSU) Chancellor’s Office updates regarding AB 389 compliance, including Systemwide Policy Development (Samantha Cypret, Executive Director, Office of Tribal Relations, Office of the Chancellor, California State University)

4. Interim CSU Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Policy – Commission to consider recommending that the Policy be finalized

5. Draft CalNAGPRA Enforcement Regulations (Michelle Carr, Acting Executive Secretary)

a) Status of draft CalNAGPRA Enforcement Regulations

i. Summary of tribal comments and responses
ii. Memorandum – revisions to draft enforcement regulations
iii. Revised draft enforcement regulations
iv. Red-line comparison of current draft to May 9, 2025, draft

b) Commission to consider sending revised draft CalNAGPRA Enforcement Regulations out to the tribal community for a 30-day comment and consultation period

6. 50th Anniversary (Bennae Calac, Sara Dutschke, Commissioners, and Michelle Carr, Acting Executive Secretary)

11:00 AM – CLOSED SESSION
Pending Litigation: California Indian Nation v. Native American Heritage Commission, Superior Court of Sacramento County, Case No. 25-WM-000157 (Government Code, § 11126(e)(1), (2)(A))

INFORMATIONAL

7. CalNAGPRA Mediation and Dispute Resolution Regulations Update (Michelle Carr, Acting Executive Secretary)

8. Contact List Regulations Update (Mario Pallari, Staff Counsel)

9. Executive Secretary Report (Michelle Carr, Acting Executive Secretary)

10. Commissioner Reports

PUBLIC COMMENT – Public comment will be limited to 3 minutes for each speaker.

The public may comment on any item on the agenda before action is taken on the item.

4:00 PM – ADJOURNMENT – At the end of public comment or 4:00 pm, whichever is first.

* Any person who has a disability and requires accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the Native American Heritage Commission at (916) 373-3710 or via email at nahc@nahc.ca.gov no later than five days prior to the meeting. Our website address is: https://nahc.ca.gov.