Tribal Nation Sues US Agencies Over Rushed Casino Approval
The Lytton Rancheria of California Tribe is suing the US Department of Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) over their “rushed and improper” approval of a casino project proposed by the Koi Nation of Northern California.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:In a joint lawsuit filed alongside the Dry Creek Ranchida Band of Pomo Indians and the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the tribes allege that the DOI and the BIA illegally expedited the Koi Nation's land-into-trust application and gaming approval without adequate tribal input, environmental assessment, or compliance with established legal protocols.
The lawsuit further alleges that federal officials disregarded longstanding precedent and hastily approved the project, unfairly favoring the Koi Nation over other tribes.
This approval is nothing short of a political maneuver that disregards the rights of Sonoma County's historic tribes. It undermines tribal self-determination, disrespects the cultural heritage of our people and sets a dangerous precedent that would allow any tribe to claim land far outside its ancestral territory to open a casino. The lawsuit also exposes conflicts of interest, including former high-ranking DOI officials who played key roles in the approval process and who had previously represented Koi or moved onto working with Koi's lobbyist, only days after the approval was issued.
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Koi Nation Has No Historical Tie with Sonoma County
According to the complaint, the BIA's decision to greenlight the Koi Nation's casino also violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act's (IGRA) 'restored lands' provision, which mandates that a Tribe have a substantial historical tie to the land.
Historical records show that the Koi Nation has no connection, such as the presence of settlements, burial sites, or traditional subsistence activities with Sonoma County, where it seeks to build a casino.
With the lawsuit, the plaintiffs aim to reverse the DOI's approval, remove the land from trust status, and mandate the federal government to conduct a proper review, including meaningful consultation with affected tribes and thorough environmental evaluation.
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