- Details
- By Kaili Berg
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has taken the Department of the Interior (DOI) to federal court over what the Tribe is calling a last-minute and legally unjustified reversal of a decision that cleared the way for a tribal gaming project in Vallejo.
On April 1, the Tribe filed a lawsuit, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians v. Douglas Burgum, et al., and an emergency motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the DOI from reopening its finalized determination that deemed the Tribe’s trust land eligible for gaming.
That decision, issued on January 10, 2025, came after years of review, legal battles, and a prior court-ordered remand.
Now, just months later, the DOI says it plans to “temporarily rescind” the eligibility ruling and revisit the record. Scotts Valley calls the move a blatant overstep.
“This is like trying to replay a football game after the final whistle has blown and the score has been posted,” Chairman Shawn Davis said. “We won. The process is over. We shouldn’t have to replay the game because others don’t like the outcome.”
The Tribe argues that the DOI has no legal grounds to reverse a completed process, especially one already tested in federal court. The January 10 decision had reaffirmed the Tribe’s right to operate gaming on the land in question after a federal judge found flaws in the Department’s earlier denial and sent it back for reconsideration.
According to the Tribe, this latest action appears to be in response to pressure from rival casino interests, groups that had already submitted evidence during the administrative review process and lost.
Chairman Davis called the reversal “shameful” and warned that it not only threatens tribal sovereignty but also puts at risk an economic development plan that could bring jobs and revenue to both the Tribe and the City of Vallejo.
“We will not allow bureaucrats to trample our sovereignty or destroy the opportunities we’ve fought decades to secure,” Davis said. “The law is on our side.”
Despite being a small landless tribe, Scotts Valley has spent years building community partnerships, securing environmental approvals, and navigating federal procedures.
The Tribe’s planned project includes a casino, hotel, and entertainment space designed to create jobs and revenue while also funding health, housing, and education programs for its citizens.
Local officials in Vallejo have voiced support for the project, and the Tribe has made efforts to ensure the development aligns with local planning goals and community values.
The Tribe is asking the court to stop the DOI from rescinding the determination while the case plays out. The motion argues that the Department’s sudden reversal risks serious harm to the Tribe’s economic future.
The case, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians v. Douglas Burgum, et al., is now before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
NEXT ON NATIVE BIDASKÉ: What if your tribe erased you?
Deb Haaland Meets with Taos Acequia Leaders to Discuss Water Rights and Agricultural Preservation
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
