Kellie Carrillo has been appointed as the new Cal NAGPRA Repatriation Coordinator. This role, housed in the Office of the President, is dedicated to facilitating the return of cultural items and ancestral remains to Native American tribes. Carrillo, a member of the Tule River Tribe, started in this position on April 8. Read below to learn more about her role and its importance to the university and broader community.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to Fresno State?
I'm a tribal member from the Tule River Tribe and currently reside in my hometown of Porterville. I have two adult daughters living in Bakersfield and San Diego, and most of my immediate family lives on or near the reservation in Porterville. Family support is very important to me.

I earned my bachelor's in cultural anthropology from CSU Bakersfield in 2009. My brother is a Fresno State alumnus, and he strongly encouraged me to apply for this position. Initially, I was hesitant due to the significant responsibility and the commute from Porterville. However, the importance of returning cultural affiliated items and ancestors to their homes in a respectful and timely manner ultimately convinced me to take on this role. Now that I'm here, I'm truly grateful for the opportunity and excited about the work ahead.

How has your background prepared you for the work you do?
My career has primarily focused on working with tribal communities. I've worked in Indian education, cultural and language preservation programs and tribal administration. Most recently, I served as the chief operating officer for my tribe. This experience in tribal relations, policy work and community development has prepared me well for this position.

Tell me about your role at Fresno State.
My primary objectives include developing, building and nurturing relationships with all tribal communities in our surrounding areas and any others that Fresno State may have culturally affiliated items from. We're working towards returning any and all cultural collections that belong to the tribes.

A key part of my role is ensuring compliance with both Cal NAGPRA and NAGPRA, which are state and federal laws respectively. NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, has been in effect since 1990, and applies to all museums and institutions.

We're committed to coordinating with tribes on their timelines and ensuring that each consultation is unique and respectful to the specific needs of each tribe. This involves being transparent about our progress and developing policies and processes that align with both legal requirements and ethical considerations.

Why is this role important for the university and community?
This role is crucial for acknowledging the first peoples of the land our campus occupies. Many Indigenous groups have resided, lived, developed families, or traded in this area. There are deep ties to this land that need to be recognized and respected. By creating this position, the university is demonstrating its commitment to fulfilling these obligations. We're working to ensure that culturally affiliated items and ancestors are returned to their rightful homes in the most respectful and timely manner possible.

This work is about more than just compliance with laws; it's about building meaningful relationships with tribal communities, fostering understanding, and contributing to a more inclusive and respectful academic environment. It's a step towards healing historical wounds and creating a more equitable future.

What initiatives are currently being worked on now?
We're focusing on developing relationships with tribal communities and partners within the CSU system. We're also working on modernizing our collections management systems to facilitate more meaningful consultations with tribes. Additionally, the university is in the process of recruiting a director of tribal relations, which will be another significant step forward.

How do you work with different groups, like federal agencies and tribes, to manage cultural items and remains?
Each relationship is unique and important. I approach all agencies and tribes with respect, using various communication methods including emails, calls and Zoom meetings. However, whenever possible, I prioritize in-person meetings, especially with tribes.

For tribes, we're coordinating consultations to be held here on campus. We're preparing spaces for item identification and care, ensuring we have everything in place to handle these sensitive matters appropriately. Most importantly, we're here to listen and adapt to the needs and preferences of each tribe. The key is to be flexible, respectful, and ready to adjust our approach based on the specific needs and protocols of each group we work with.

How can you coordinate and consult with campus departments, faculty and staff in your work?
Collaboration across campus is crucial. I've already worked closely with various departments, including the Office of the President, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Facilities, IT, and Communications. Building these relationships helps me understand how the university operates and how we can best support one another in achieving our objectives.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
My passion for this work stems from my upbringing. My father taught me and my siblings about California Indian history and advocacy from a very young age. These early experiences taught me the importance and responsibility of protecting our culture and teaching the true history of our people and California in general.

As an adult, I'm grateful for those experiences and the people we were able to learn from. They instilled in me a deep commitment to preserving and honoring Indigenous cultures, which drives my work today. I'm passionate about ensuring that our ancestors and cultural items are treated with the utmost respect and returned to where they belong.

What is your goal for next year?
My main goal is to assess our progress and provide a clear picture of our status at the university. I hope to see more faculty, staff, and students involved in or interested in our work. I'm also developing ideas to present to leadership about future initiatives and partnerships.

What message would you like to convey to the Fresno State community about the importance of your work?
I encourage everyone to reach out, ask questions, and learn more about this position and our work. All departments can benefit from and contribute to this effort. The more our campus community engages with this work, the more we demonstrate our respect for tribal communities and our commitment to righting historical wrongs.