Lytton Rancheria of California files lawsuit against DOI and BIA for ‘improper’ casino approval
The lawsuit states how Lytton Rancheria of California believes federal officials ignored decades of precedent and rushed through approvals to benefit one Tribe at the expense of others.
Key Points
- The lawsuit was filed alongside the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians and the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians
- Filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the lawsuit asserts that the DOI and BIA violated federal law by “fast-tracking” Koi Nation’s land-into-trust application and gaming approval
The Lytton Rancheria of California Tribe filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on February 24 to challenge the “rushed and improper” approval of a casino project for the Koi Nation of Northern California.
Filed alongside the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians and the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the lawsuit asserts that the DOI and BIA violated federal law by “fast-tracking” the Koi Nation’s land-into-trust application and gaming approval without proper tribal consultation, adequate environmental review or adherence to the established legal requirements.
The lawsuit also highlights how federal officials were said to have ignored decades of precedent and rushed through approvals to benefit one Tribe at the expense of others.
“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,” Lytton Rancheria Chairperson Andy Mejia said.
“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.”
Good to know: The Lytton Rancheria of California voiced its support of a letter sent by Governor Gavin Newsom to the DOI on August 20, 2024, which asked the Department to not proceed with two casino projects
The complaint states how the BIA’s decision to approve the Koi Nation’s casino in Sonoma County violates the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s (IGRA) “restored lands” exception, which requires a Tribe to have a “significant historical connection” to the land.
Koi Nation is based nearly 50 miles away in Lake County and has no documented history of settlement, burial grounds or subsistence use in Sonoma County.
The lawsuit seeks to overturn the DOI’s approval, remove the Koi Nation’s land from federal trust and require the federal government to conduct a proper review process that includes “meaningful Tribal consultation and environmental assessments.”
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