Koi Nation lines up tribal support for Windsor-area casino project

As the Koi Nation has mounted a bid to build a large casino-resort in the unincorporated Shiloh area near Windsor, one of the tribe’s biggest obstacles has been opposition by other local tribes — especially from the economically powerful Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

But the Koi are fighting back.

This week, Koi leadership announced support from a broad coalition of 18 California tribal governments, several political figures and one key ally in state government — California Treasurer Fiona Ma.

“The Nation is overjoyed its proposed project has received overwhelming support from a broad cross-section of the community, fellow tribes, and the public,” Koi Chairman Darin Beltran said in a press release. “The coalition of our supporters share a recognition of the project’s immense value potential for the Sonoma County community and the moral imperative underlying our effort to right historical wrongs and reestablish our people’s tribal land base.”

The Koi Nation are a Southeastern Pomo band. Several other recognized bands of Pomo are now either aligned against their project, or queued up in support.

Those officially in favor are the Scotts Valley, Habematolel of Upper Lake, Hopland, Big Valley and Sherwood Valley bands. Those opposed include the Graton Rancheria, Cloverdale Rancheria, Lytton and Dry Creek Rancheria bands.

Graton Rancheria owns Graton Casino & Resort in Rohnert Park, the Bay Area’s largest gaming facility. That casino is slated to be California’s second biggest after completion of an ongoing expansion project, with a total of 6,000 slot machines and a gaming floor that measures more than 450,000 square feet.

Speaking at the groundbreaking for that expansion in June was California Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, setting up a potential conflict between two major state political leaders over the Koi project. Kounalakis has announced her intent to run for Governor in 2026 as Gavin Newsom reaches his term limit.

Ma, for her part, spoke glowingly of the Koi casino project in a June letter to the Department of the Interior’s assistant secretary of Indian Affairs. She said approving the Koi’s fee-to-trust application would “right historical wrongs,” promote the tribe’s economic independence and lead to the creation of hundreds of union jobs.

“As California State Treasurer,” Ma wrote, “I oversee an agency which houses programs offering financing and support to projects that carry societal benefits like schools, hospitals, and affordable housing developments. The Shiloh Resort & Casino’s capacity to serve as an economic catalyst for both Sonoma County and a once-landless federally recognized Native American tribe has earned my respect.”

Greg Sarris, chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

But during an online public hearing in September, Sarris told the Bureau of Indian Affairs that the Koi’s “proposed site here is 49 miles from their original reservation. And never, never has the Department of Interior taken restored lands into trust that far — never further than 15 miles from their original rancheria.”

The Koi people traditionally lived on an island in Clear Lake, in modern-day Lake County, and on the surrounding shores. That land was taken by white settlers in the 1870s. Congress deeded the Koi a 140-acre parcel between Lower Lake and Clear Lake Heights in 1916, then unilaterally transferred the land to Lake County in 1956, leaving the Koi landless. Many members settled in Sonoma County.

In an email to The Press Democrat, Beltran, the Koi chairman sought to minimize Sarris’ objections over territorial rights.

“Graton placed keeping its monopoly on gaming above self-determination for other Indian tribes like the Koi Nation,” Beltran wrote. “The Koi Nation went out and won the support of the nearly 20 other tribes for our Shiloh project. All the comments, in favor and in opposition, will be evaluated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. We believe the Graton opposition is meritless.”

Each of the Koi’s tribal endorsements came after Graton Rancheria announced its opposition, the Koi emphasized.

The Shiloh casino project remains under consideration as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a branch of the U.S. Department of the Interior, evaluates an environmental assessment published last September.

Based on its reading of the environmental assessment, the BIA will determine whether the development is likely to result in significant environmental impact to the surrounding area. If it answers affirmatively, the bureau will ask for the preparation of a more detailed environmental impact statement.

The Shiloh casino proposal has been a source of local controversy since the Koi first announced they had purchased a 68-acre parcel of land off East Shiloh Road in September 2021.

The project alternative preferred by the Koi calls for a 540,000-square-foot casino with 2,750 gaming devices, five restaurants, five bars, a coffee shop, 2,800-seat event center and two ballrooms, plus an adjacent 400-room hotel and spa. The plan would include more than 5,000 parking spaces and the use of nearly 280,000 gallons of water per day.

That is too much development to suit neighbors, especially Esposti Park residents just to the north of the proposed site. They cite concerns over noise, traffic, crime and safety during wildfire evacuations.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the Windsor Town Council, state Sen. Mike McGuire, U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson, and Sen. Alex Padilla also oppose the project.

Koi tribal leaders counter that in the context of centuries-long displacement, oppression and neglect at the hands of the American government, casinos are among the few options for tribal self-determination and income.

“The Koi Nation believes it has become increasingly important for tribal governments to advocate for one another as we seek to establish and exercise the sovereign rights we all share under federal law,” Dino Beltran, Koi vice chairman and director of development, said in the press release.

The Koi have entered a formal partnership with one other tribe, signing a predevelopment agreement that would allow Global Gaming Solutions, owned by the Chickasaw Nation, to manage and operate the Shiloh facility. The Chickasaw own 23 casinos in Oklahoma.

The other California tribes lending support to the project include the Bishop Paiute Tribe, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Guidiville Indian Rancheria, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Tejon Indian Tribe, Jamul Indian Village, Cahto Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria, Chicken Ranch Rancheria, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, Redding Rancheria, Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians and Yurok Tribe.

Also in favor are former Santa Rosa Mayor Tom Schwedhelm, retired Lake County Sheriff Bryan Martin and actor-environmentalist Peter Coyote. In addition, the Koi have lined up letters of intent from the Northern California Carpenters Union and Sonoma County Fire Protection District.

You can reach Phil Barber at 707-521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com. On X @Skinny_Post.