The tribe’s complaint describes the land as essential to their identity and survival, given the history of genocide against California’s indigenous peoples. The FIGR is seeking an injunction to prevent the DOI and BIA from making any decisions on whether to take the 65-acre parcel into trust for the casino until the consultation process is properly conducted to address the potential impact on historic properties.
The FIGR contends that the DOI’s environmental review failed to consider the cultural significance of the land. According to the tribe, the DOI’s rush to approve the land trust transfer risks putting culturally significant resources at the site at risk, potentially undermining legal protections under California law. The tribe further claims that this would transfer ownership of Southern Pomo resources found on the land to the Koi Nation.
In its response, the federal government stated that the DOI began reviewing the project in 2022, including conducting field surveys after the Koi Nation submitted its application for the casino. The DOI contended that the surveys found only a small number of historic and prehistoric items, which it concluded did not meet the requirements for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
