Published on: December 4, 2024, 06:19h.
Last updated on: December 4, 2024, 06:19h.
California’s Graton Rancheria tribe (FIGR) has filed a lawsuit to challenge the Koi Nation’s plan to build a casino in Sonoma County, which is known for its wine. The lawsuit questions the ancestral ties of the Koi Nation to the land and challenges the federal government’s approval process.
FIGR, based in Sonoma County, runs the Graton Hotel & Casino in Rohnert Park, close to the proposed Koi Nation site. They have been opposed to the Nation’s application to have the land taken into trust for the casino project, accusing them of “reservation shopping.”
The process of “taking land into trust” involves the federal government converting land into tribal territory, a necessary step for tribal gaming.
Final Approval Pending
The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recently completed the final environmental impact study (FEIS) for the Koi Nation project. The project is now awaiting final approval, expected by the end of December.
However, the Graton Rancheria’s lawsuit challenges the ancestral ties of the Koi Nation to the land, alleging that the BIA did not thoroughly investigate the tribe’s history.
One of the requirements for the land in trust process is demonstrating a historical connection to the land. The lawsuit claims that the plot in Sonoma County is outside the Koi Nation’s historical territory, located over 50 miles away.
The lawsuit asserts that the Tribe and other Southern Pomo tribes in Sonoma County have a deep connection to the area, emphasizing their cultural and historical ties.
It further states, “The Southern Pomo language and culture are distinct from that of other Pomo tribes, such as the Southeastern Pomo Koi Nation, and these boundaries have existed for centuries.”
Allegations of Bad Faith
In response, Koi Nation spokesperson Sam Singer dismissed the lawsuit as “meritless” and filed in bad faith to benefit Graton Rancheria’s economic interests. The lawsuit targets Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and various officials in the BIA and other federal agencies.
The lawsuit seeks to halt any final decision on the land until a proper consultation process with FIGR and other culturally affiliated tribes is completed.