California Governor Urges Interior to Reject Tribal Casino Plans

California Governor Gavin Newsom has requested the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to block two tribal casino developments in Solano and Sonoma counties. His appeal came in the form of a letter sent to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, where he raised concerns about the impact of these projects.

Questioning the Legality of New Casino Projects

Governor Newsom’s argument centers around the Koi Nation of Northern California and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, both of whom have submitted proposals for new casino projects. According to Newsom, these projects are located on lands that do not constitute the tribes’ ancestral territories. He suggested that pushing forward with the projects would overextend the “restored lands” exception under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) beyond its intended boundaries.

Moreover, the governor expressed concerns about how the DOI would effectively bypass the requirements of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by allowing these projects to proceed. In his letter, addressed specifically to Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland, Newsom criticized the Interior Department for not adequately considering alternative sites within the tribes’ actual Lake County homelands.

Local Tribes and Leaders Support Newsom’s Position

Several other groups, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, have rallied behind Newsom’s initiative. This federally recognized tribe, which is composed of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians, appreciated the governor’s efforts to uphold tribal sovereignty. According to Greg Sarris, chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, these proposed projects threaten the cultural resources and rights of tribes whose ancestral lands encompass the proposed casino sites. He further emphasized that Interior Secretary Haaland bears significant responsibility for ensuring the protection of all tribes’ interests in this matter.

Another group that supports the governor’s position is the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which operates Cache Creek Casino. Along with the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation and several local government officials, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation held a press conference in West Sacramento to publicly oppose the Scotts Valley casino project. The casino proposal, which has been under review since 2016, is located near Vallejo and has garnered significant opposition.

Proposed casino projects in northern California by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Koi Nation are under fire from local tribes, municipalities, and Governor Gavin Newsom, @TribalBiz reports. https://t.co/pZfwG1SXzy

— Native News Online (@nativenews_net) August 26, 2024

Regional Resistance to Casino Expansion

The opposition to these casino projects isn’t limited to tribes alone. Two years ago, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors cast a unanimous vote against the Koi Nation’s proposed casino resort. Additionally, some regional tribes accused the proponents of the new casinos of “reservation shopping,” a term used to describe the practice of tribes seeking land far from their original reservations to maximize future profits from casinos. This term has been considered offensive by many Native Americans, as it implies that tribes are prioritizing financial gains over cultural ties to the land.

Economic Stakes and Pending Approval

Both casino projects represent significant economic investments. The Scotts Valley Band’s proposal involves a $700 million casino resort, while the Koi Nation’s project is valued at $600 million. Both projects have been awaiting DOI approval, with the potential for the federal government to take the casino land into trust. Doing so would effectively remove the land from state jurisdiction and grant it sovereign status, a necessary step for tribal gaming operations to proceed.

The DOI is expected to consider Newsom’s objections, but the ultimate decision will not rest solely in the governor’s hands. Instead, the DOI will assess whether the tribes have legitimate ancestral ties to the land in question. Both tribes maintain that they do, but their claims have been disputed by other tribes in the region.

The Legal Landscape for Tribal Gaming

In the background of these casino debates, the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act recently moved forward in the California State Assembly after a unanimous 14-0 vote. This bill brings Californian tribes closer to the ability to take legal action against cardrooms that offer blackjack and poker, games that tribes argue should be exclusively offered in tribal casinos under existing compacts.

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