The Koi Nation, a tribe of 96 members in Northern California, has been working to obtain land, open a casino, and tap into the lucrative gaming market enjoyed by many other tribes. In 2019, a federal court ruling made it possible for the tribe to find a financial partner to buy land and place it into trust, making it eligible for a casino. The tribe has since teamed up with the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and purchased a 68-acre parcel for $12.3 million in Sonoma County. They are now awaiting a decision from U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on whether the land will be put into trust, enabling the construction of a $600 million casino and resort in Northern California’s wine country.
Opposition to the Koi Nation’s casino plans has been mounting from other tribes, including Graton Rancheria, a federation of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo people. Graton Rancheria’s chairman, Greg Sarris, has criticized the Koi Nation’s project, arguing that they do not have a strong historical connection to the land in Sonoma County. He believes the tribe is trying to game the system by cherry-picking land that draws tourists. The Indian Gaming Regulation Act sets rules for tribal casinos, generally requiring casinos to be on ancestral lands that have been returned to the tribe. However, there is a “restored lands” exception for federally recognized tribes without a reservation.
The Koi Nation’s historic connection to the land dates back to their ancestors trading with other tribes in Northern California. The tribe’s original rancheria land in Lake County was deemed uninhabitable by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, leading many Koi families to relocate to neighboring Sonoma County. After losing their land to an airport in a federal government seizure, a court ruling in 2019 gave the Koi Nation the right to pursue land for a casino. The tribe believes they have a strong legal case for the casino development, citing a historic trail on the property as evidence of a significant historical connection.
Despite the Koi Nation’s efforts, they face opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, local politicians, and other casino-owning tribes like the Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians. Newsom’s office sent a letter urging the Department of the Interior not to move forward with the Koi Nation’s casino project, along with another proposed casino in the Bay Area. The department is currently reviewing several land trust applications under the “restored lands” exception, including another tribe’s casino project in Solano County.
The decision on whether to approve the Koi Nation’s casino project will ultimately lie with U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Factors to be considered include opposition to the casinos, as well as the potential benefits for tribal self-determination, governance, economic development, job creation, and resources for the tribe. With California being the largest tribal gaming market in the country, the Koi Nation’s casino plans could tap into an untapped market of 40 million people. Despite facing challenges and opposition, the tribe remains hopeful that their casino project will be approved, allowing them to provide better opportunities and resources for their members in one of the country’s most expensive regions.
