New Ads Urge Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to Respect Tribal Sovereignty Southern Pomo Tribal Nations in Sonoma County, California, Ask Interior Department to Reject the Koi Nation’s Bid to Build a Casino on Southern Pomo Lands

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (November 21, 2024) – The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) announced a new series of full-page advertisements – placed in collaboration with the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians – asking the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to stop the Koi Nation from claiming Southern Pomo land to build a new casino.

The Interior Department is advancing its review of the Koi Nation’s application to build a casino on our Southern Pomo ancestral homeland in Sonoma County, California, 50 miles from the Koi’s aboriginal homeland in Lake County, California. If Secretary Haaland allows Interior to fast-track and rubber-stamp Koi’s proposal, the four Southern Pomo Tribal Nations will lose sovereignty over their land, cultural resources, and identity.

“The Interior Department is setting a new, dangerous precedent for every tribal nation,” the four tribes wrote.”This decision will impact not only the tribes in Sonoma County but all Tribal Nations seeking to protect their land, cultural resources, and identity. If the Interior Department allows the Koi Nation to claim our land, the Koi will have influence over the treatment of any human remains or cultural objects discovered in our aboriginal territory.”

The ads – featured in today’s print edition of The Washington Post – will be featured later this week in The Los Angeles Times and The Albuquerque Journal.

About the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
Graton Rancheria is a federally recognized Indian tribe comprised of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians. Legislation restoring federal recognition to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria was signed into law in December 2000. Tribal lands are located in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, CA. For more information, visit www.gratonrancheria.com.

Media Contact:
Jack Turman
Narrative Strategies
(562)-371-4101
jturman@narrativestrategies.com