California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Chairman James Siva has released a statement regarding a recent decision made by the US Department of Interior and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s official response. The department rejected a Class III gaming compact between the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the state of California.
Also included in its decision was a disapproval of a Class III gaming compacts between the state and the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria.
The rejection means the tribes will not be able to provide casino-style gambling options to its guests, including slot machines, roulette, and craps.
Governor Newsom issued a recent statement in dissent of the decision. He said in a written statement: “Despite the tribes’ efforts to meet with Interior and changes negotiated with the State of California to address concerns expressed by Interior, the department chose to disregard the interests of the tribes and arbitrarily disapprove the compacts.
“The disapprovals threaten the ability of these and other tribes to invest and maintain jobs in many of California’s economically disadvantaged communities."
Siva spoke highly of the governor but disagreed with his assessment of the situation.
He commented: "While the California Nations Indian Gaming Association believes that every California tribe is entitled to a class III gaming compact that complies with IGRA, and while CNIGA has the greatest respect and appreciation for Governor Newsom's stated intention to rectify the many historic wrongs committed or facilitated by the state of California against its Native peoples, in this instance Governor Newsom simply is wrong, and the Department of the Interior is correct.”
Siva went on to express that any agreement that requires tribes to give up sovereignty for self-reliance should be rejected.
“Simply put, the state should not put any tribe in the position of having to choose between the self-reliance offered through gaming and surrendering its sovereignty in matters not directly related to and necessary for the regulation, licensing and actual operation of Class III gaming activities,” he said.
CNIGA functions as a non-profit association made up of federally recognized tribal governments. The organization is dedicated to protecting tribal sovereignty, as well as the inherent gaming rights of tribes on Indian lands.
In his closing remarks, Siva offered a call to action for Governor Newsom that he believes will support the tribes going forward.
Siva concluded by saying: “Rather than continuing to fight the tribes in court, Governor Newsom should come to the negotiating table prepared to enter into new agreements that are confined to what IGRA permits.
“If he were to do that, new IGRA-compliant compacts could be in place well before the current agreements expire, and the chairs of the two tribes whose compacts were disapproved would not have to worry about any threats to their future prosperity.”
