The U.S. Department of the Interior has recently approved the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' proposal to place a 128-acre parcel in Vallejo, California, into federal trust, paving the way for a $700 million casino resort.
This decision has sparked opposition from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which claims cultural ties to the land and argues that the Scotts Valley Band lacks a historical connection to the area. The project has also faced resistance from local officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who expressed concerns about the tribe's lack of historical ties to the land.
The Vallejo City Council, however, has shown willingness to collaborate with the Scotts Valley Band if the land is placed into trust.
The casino proposal includes a 400,000-square-foot, eight-story facility, 24 homes for tribe members, an administration building, and a biological preserve.
The Department of the Interior's approval was signed by Wizipan Garriott, the agency’s principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, in the closing days of the Biden presidency.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has criticized the approval process as secretive and fast-tracked, expressing concerns about the potential impact on their own gaming operations.
The Scotts Valley Band, officially designated as a landless tribe, has a history marked by displacement and legal battles to regain federal recognition. The approval of the casino project represents a significant development in their efforts to establish economic self-sufficiency.
The situation underscores the complexities the federal government faces in balancing the interests of different Native American tribes, local governments, and communities in the realm of tribal gaming and land trust acquisitions.
