INTERNEWTIMES.COM – A small, landless tribe in Northern California, the Koi Nation, is on the cusp of realizing a long-held dream: building a multi-million dollar casino resort. After decades of fighting for recognition and land rights, the tribe is now awaiting a critical decision from the U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
The decision centers around the tribe’s request to place a 68-acre parcel of land in Sonoma County into federal trust. This would pave the way for the Koi Nation to build their proposed $600 million Shiloh Resort and Casino, a project that includes a 2,500-slot machine casino and a 400-room hotel with spa and pool.
The Koi Nation, a Southeastern Pomo tribe with deep historical roots in Northern California, has partnered with the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, which owns the world’s largest casino, to make this dream a reality. The tribe purchased the land in 2021 for $12.3 million.
The decision comes at a time when the U.S. government is actively working to address its history of dispossessing Indigenous people of their land. The Koi Nation’s land trust application falls under a federal legal process that allows tribes to place land into trust if they can demonstrate a significant historical connection to the area.
However, the Koi Nation’s plans have sparked opposition from other tribes and even California Governor Gavin Newsom. The proposed casino would be located near Windsor, just a few miles away from two existing Native American casinos: Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park and River Rock Casino in Geyserville.
The fate of the Koi Nation’s casino dreams rests on Secretary Haaland’s decision, which could have significant implications for the tribe’s future and the landscape of gaming in Northern California. (Red)
