Shiloh Resort & Casino - 2024 News Archive

Shiloh Resort & Casino | Graton Suit Delays Fed Approval

December 23, 2024

In an 11th-hour lawsuit filed by Graton Rancheria against the U.S. Department of the Interior, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday to stop the federal government from approving a Koi Nation casino project proposed for Sonoma County. The restraining order was issued Friday, December 21, 2021 by Judge Rita F. Lin in the Northern District of California.

The Koi Nation is seeking federal approval to build a 600 million casino resort, named Shiloh Resort & Casino, near Winsor, California. The location is 15 miles from Graton Resort Casino. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which owns the casino, filed the lawsuit on Nov. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The tribe claims the federal government did not thoroughly investigate the ancestral rights to the Winsor casino site. The Graton Rancheria is claiming "tribal sovereignty, its rights over Southern Pomo ancestors and sacred objects" on the land.

Today was the deadline for public comments to be submitted to the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regarding the Koi Nation casino project. The public inputs were expected to be the final step in the casino approval process before making a final decision. The federal decision was expected before the end of the Biden administration, which ends on January 20th.

Shiloh Casino | One Step from Fed Approval

November 24, 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has one more step to complete before deciding whether to approve an application from the Koi Nation to build a $600 million casino resort, named Shiloh Resort & Casino, in Sonoma County, California.

Last Friday the agency published its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the casino. The report is available online and can be viewed by clicking here. The final step in the decision process is a 30-day public comment period, which is now underway with a deadline for inputs by December 23, 2024.

There are two ways to submit your comments about the Shiloh Casino FEIS report:

MAIL
Amy Dutschke, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Region, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825.
* Include your name, return address, and "FEIS Comments, Shiloh Resort and Casino Project" on the first page.

EMAIL
Chad Broussard, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs, at chad.broussard@bia.gov
* Use subject: "FEIS Comments, Shiloh Resort and Casino Project"

If the Shiloh casinoproject is approved, the Department of Interior will begin to process to transfer the casino land into federal trust for the Koi Nation, which will give it sovereignty over state and local jurisdictions.

There will also be lawsuits filed by opponents to the casino. These will include citizen groups and tribes with competing casinos. The legal challenges are expected to take several years to resolve.

Shiloh Resort & Casino complies with Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Sonoma County, CA)

September 29, 2024

Koi Nation plans to build the $600 million Shiloh Resort & Casino in Sonoma County, California. The tribe's casino application for federal approval under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is currently under review by the U.S. Department of Interior.

The Shiloh Casino project is opposed by California Gov. Newsom and other regional tribes, which dispute the Koi Nation's ancestral land claims to a 68-acre casino site near Winsor, California.

This week the Koi Nation published the following press release addressing their ancestral land claims.

Koi Nation of Northern California Casino Plan Meets Requirements of Indian Gaming Laws

News provided by
Koi Nation
Sep 27, 2024, 18:15 ET

Local paper of record and largest Native American publication in the U.S. published opinion pieces that support Tribe's pursuit of the Shiloh Resort & Casino through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act's "Restored Lands Provision"

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Koi Nation of Northern California is in full compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act's "Restored Lands Provision" in the tribe's pursuit of the Shiloh Resort & Casino project in unincorporated Sonoma County, California.

"The promise of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act's 'restored lands provision' was to remedy the tragic history of forced removal and relocation by allowing restored lands to be utilized for tribal gaming," said Darin Beltran, Chair of the Koi Nation of Northern California's Tribal Council. "Like it or not, a rigid set of rules exists to qualify for this provision of federal law - and we've dutifully met them all."

The Koi Nation's ancestors relocated to Sonoma County after rejecting the Bureau of Indian Affairs' offer of a Rancheria in neighboring Lake County in 1916 that the agency itself deemed uninhabitable. This tragic series of events rendered the Koi Nation landless and led to the improper termination of its federal recognition status, ending its ability to pursue gaming through the same rights afforded to all other federally recognized tribes.

The Koi Nation's federal recognition status was finally restored in 2000, and a 2019 ruling in a case overseen by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, Beryl A. Howell, recognized the tribe's ability to pursue gaming through the "restored lands provision".

"This unique provision of federal law allows tribes restored to federal recognition status, such as the Koi Nation, to pursue gaming according to strict statutory and regulatory requirements," Beltran said.

These requirements include the demonstration of a "significant historical connection" to the site of proposed gaming projects

In its filing for a restored lands opinion, the Koi Nation methodically details the tribe's deep ties to Sonoma County. These include their ancestors' well-regarded roles as Sonoma County Native American political leaders who advocated for 1928 federal native claims legislation, Native American social rights and community organization with other Pomo tribes, and voters for the tribe's organization under President Franklin Roosevelt's Indian Reorganization Act of 1935.

"Since that time, the center of Koi Pomo life - and death - has been in Sonoma County," said Dino Beltran, Vice Chair of the Koi Nation of Northern California's Tribal Council. "Our application is in full compliance with Indian Gaming Regulation Act's restored lands provision."

The Koi Nation's strong historical connection to Sonoma County was recently supported by an opinion piece published by the project site's local paper of record, the Press Democrat.

Additionally, the largest native American news publication in the United States, Indian Country Today, published an opinion piece supporting the Koi Nation's utilization of the restored land provision in the face of recent opposition

The publication of these two pieces demonstrates that the opinions contained therein are significant not just in the region surrounding the proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino project, but for all of Indian country throughout the United States

About the Koi Nation
The Koi Nation's mission is to empower our people to achieve a better way of life and to maintain tribal integrity and honor through responsive government. We are committed to protecting and exercising our inherent sovereign rights as a federally recognized tribe to their fullest extent, including obtaining land to re-establish a permanent land base for our people who have lived in this region for thousands of years, and creating self-sustaining economic activity to support the tribal government and its people, and to benefit the entire community of Sonoma County. For more information visit www.KoiNationSonoma.com.

---

Contact: Sam Singer or Noah Starr
Singer Associates Public Relations
singer@singersf.com
Cell: 415.336.4949

Source: Koi Nation

The final decision on whether the Koi Nation can build the Shiloh Resort & Casino will be made by U.S. Secretary of Interior. There is no time schedule for the decision.

Koi Nation repudiates Gov. Newsom's opposition to Sonoma casino project

August 26, 2024

The Koi Nation of Northern California released an immediate statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom's letter of opposition to the U.S. Department of Interior regarding the tribe's plan to build a $600 million casino resort near Windsor in Sonoma County.

The governor argued the Shiloh Resort & Casino project should be rejected by the federal government because the proposed casino location is outside the aboriginal territory of the tribe. The Koi Nation immediately responded to Gov. Newsom with this statement on Friday:

"It is evident that the governor's opposition reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of federal law."

- - Koi Nation of Northern California

The Koi Nation is a federally-recognized tribe, but the tribe has no reservation land. Under federal law, the Koi Nation can qualify to build a casino on the historical lands of its ancestors, a legal exception called "restored lands."

The Koi Nation claims to have a 17,000-year history in the Sonoma and Lake Counties. In 2019 a federal court affirmed the tribe's right "to correct historic wrongs that rendered landless tribes like the Koi, depriving them of opportunities to develop and achieve economic self-sufficiency."

The final decision on whether the Koi Nation can proceed with building the Shiloh Resort & Casino will be made by U.S. Secretary Deb Haaland and the Department of the Interior. There is no time schedule as to where to expect the answer.

Shiloh Resort Casino Project opposed by California Gov. Newsom

August 22, 2024

California Governor Gavin Newsom has sent a letter to the US Department of the Interior (DOI) expressing his opposition to the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project planned for Sonoma County by the Koi Nation of Northern California.

The Koi Nation, which is a federally-recognized tribe headquartered in Santa Rosa, submitted an application to the DOI in 2021 requesting approval to build a $600 million casino resort on 68-acres of vineyards owned by the tribe near Winsor, California.

The Shiloh Casino application is currently under review by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), an agency within the Department of the Interior. In July an environmental impact statement (EIS) was published and followed by a 45-day period for public comments.

The governor's letter to the DOI expresses his concerns about the environmental impacts of the casino project. Gov. Newsom said:

"(I am) concerned that these specific projects are proceeding in a manner that would sidestep the state, ignore the concerns of tribal governments and other local communities and stretch the 'restored lands' exception beyond its legal limits - while failing to adequately consider whether there might be a better way."

- Gov. Gavin Newsom

In response to the Governor's opposition, the Koi Nation issued a statement from Vice Chair and Director of Development, Dino Beltran, in defense of the charges. Beltran said the Koi Nation has complied in full accordance with the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and its provisions regarding 'restored lands'. Under this law the tribe is seeking federal gaming approval to "address historical injustices and supporttribal economic self-sufficiency".

The California Governor's letter joins the opposition already expressed by major regional tribes, including the Lytton Rancheria of California, which owns the San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which owns the Graton Resort Casino in Rohnert Park, and the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, which owns the River Rock Casino in Geyserville.

Shiloh Casino Project Advances in Sonoma County | July 2024 Update

July 24, 2024

The Shiloh Resort & Casino project proposed for Sonoma County, California, is advancing through the federal approval process. The $600 million project is planned for a 68-acre site owned by the Koi Nation located northeast of Santa Rosa.

This month the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Shiloh Resort and Casino. The new report followed a BIA review of public comments received last April regarding an environmental assessment (EA). (See news story).

Once again, the BIA has announce a 45-day period for submitting public comments about concerns, issues, and other feedback regarding the EIS report. The deadline for comments is August 26th. The draft-version of the report can be read online here.

Shiloh Resort and Casino Project | March 2024 Update

March 19, 2024

Sonoma County residents are invited to comment on the upcoming federal Environmental Impact Statement covering the Koi Nation casino project near Santa Rosa, California. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published a Notice of Intent (NOI) this month seeking public inputs for consideration in the report. A 30-day comment period will end April 8, 2024.

The Koi Nation of Northern California wants to build a new casino resort in Sonoma County. The project, named Shiloh Resort and Casino, includes a non-smoking casino with 2,500 slot machines, six restaurants, a 400-room hotel, ballroom, conference space, and an event center. The location is 222 E. Shiloh Road near Windsor, California.

Last September the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published an Environmental Assessment of the project. After receiving and reviewing public comments, the BIA decided to move forward with an Environment Impact Statement.

To submit your comments on the environmental impact of the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project, visit shilohresortenvironmental.com for instructions and current documentation.

Shiloh Resort & Casino Project Gains Support - Update Jan. 2024

January 13, 2024

The Koi Nation's plan to build a $600 million casino resort in Sonoma County is waiting for a decision from the U.S. Department of Interior. The Koi tribe applied for federal approval in Sep. 2021 to build the Shiloh Resort & Casino on a tribe-owned vineyard northeast of Santa Rosa, California. The casino will provide a self-sustaining economic future for the Koi Nation.

The Shiloh Casino project has gained widespread support from elected officials, tribal governments, and community leaders. Examples include:

18 Other Tribal Governments
California State Treasurer Fiona Ma
Environmentalist, Actor Peter Coyote
Lake County Sheriff Bryan Martin
Northern California Carpenters Union
Santa Rosa City Councilmember (Former) Tom Schwedhelm
Santa Rosa City Councilmember (Former) John Sawyer.
Sonoma County Fire District

After a two-year environment review the Interior Department issued the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. The period for public review of the report concluded in November 2023. The final approval of the report by the Interior Department is pending. That approval is crucial for the project to proceed.