In the waning days of his administration, former President Joe Biden's administration approved several tribal land-into-trust applications, including off-reservation projects that traditionally faced strong resistance. One of the most contentious approvals went to the Koi Nation of Northern California, which seeks to develop a $600 million facility featuring a 400-room hotel and a casino with over 500,000 square feet of gaming space, including 2,750 slot machines in a location near Windsor, Sonoma County. If realized, this venture would rank among California's largest tribal casinos.
The Koi project, put forth in 2021, requested a "restored land" exception from the Department of the Interior (DOI), highlighting the tribe's historical ties to the area despite its location beyond the tribe's current reservation. This type of request often arises among smaller tribes that have faced displacement throughout history.
The Koi Nation was recognized in 1916 under a different name and initially received land in Lake County. However, much of this land was found to be unusable, prompting the tribe's relocation to Sonoma County. Due to clerical errors, the tribe was largely overlooked until a 2000 DOI ruling reinstated its status.
On January 13, the DOI, led by outgoing Secretary Deb Haaland, approved the Koi's trust application. Following this decision, opposition grew rapidly, particularly from other tribal entities.
One of the most vocal opponents is the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR), which owns the Graton Resort and Casino, the Bay Area's largest casino located near the Koi proposed site. In November, prior to the approval, FIGR filed a lawsuit against Haaland and the DOI, renewing its legal challenges in February after the trust approval. The tribe contends that the Koi project encroaches upon its ancestral lands and bypasses stringent land-into-trust regulations.
Greg Sarris, FIGR Chairman, warned that recognizing the Koi Nation's claims could set a perilous precedent for all California tribes and the broader Indian Nations. He expressed concerns about the potential proliferation of casinos and challenges to tribal sovereignty.
Other tribes, including the Dry Creek Rancheria, Cloverdale Rancheria, and Lytton Rancheria, joined the fight against the Koi project, filing their lawsuit against the DOI in February. Lytton Rancheria Chairperson Andy Mejia criticized the approval as a political maneuver undermining tribal rights and sovereignty.
Adding to the rising opposition, the state of California, alongside local officials, has entered the fray. In May, Governor Gavin Newsom's office filed a suit against the DOI, echoing concerns that the DOI's interpretation of the Koi Nation’s claim to land falls short of legal adequacy. Newsom had earlier urged the DOI to decline the proposal.
Local officials, including Sonoma County Board of Supervisors member Lynda Hopkins and Windsor Town Manager Jon Davis, have publicly opposed the project, with Hopkins highlighting the area’s zoning limitations and vulnerability to wildfires.
In response, the Koi Nation has submitted its own briefs, asserting that the DOI's ruling was well-founded and not a difficult decision.
Opponents may be encouraged by a recent DOI decision to retract another controversial casino approval granted during the Biden administration. In January, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians received approval for an off-reservation casino in Vallejo, which was rescinded for additional review by current DOI Secretary Doug Burgum in late March. This case raised similar issues related to land rights and federal-state relations.
FIGR has adjusted its political contributions in a possibly strategic move. Traditionally a significant donor to Democratic candidates, FIGR has shifted focus to Republican groups this year, a change noted as the GOP controls Congress. Sarris emphasized the tribe's commitment to environmental stewardship and sovereignty rights in all its political engagements.
