In recent months, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has found itself at the center of a contentious political and cultural debate as it seeks to restore its federal status. This effort, however, faces significant opposition from a current and former members of Congress who argue against expansion of gaming activities by tribal entities, a claim that brings into sharp focus the complexities of federal recognition and tribal sovereignty in the United States.
The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay Area, has long sought to regain federal recognition, a status that would restore their rights, including access to the federal benefits afforded to recognized tribes. However, their request has been met with resistance from Rep. Zoe Lofgren and former Rep. Anna Eshoo, two congressional leaders who claim to be wary of the potential for gaming operations associated with such recognition.
This apprehension stems from a broader political landscape where anti-gaming sentiments have been used as premise to oppose the recognition of wrongfully unrecognized Indian tribes. But at the same time, these same members of Congress express no concern whatsoever about the proliferation of casinos in the San Francsico Bay Area.
Ironically, while members of Congress voice their opposition to the Muwekma tribe’s restoration of its never-terminated federal status on the premise of gaming opposition, a strikingly contrasting situation is unfolding with the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians.
This tribe is being permitted to construct a casino far outside of their traditional territory, encroaching significantly upon the ancestral lands of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Critics argue that this juxtaposition highlights a troubling inconsistency in congressional decision-making—wherein one tribe’s casino ambitions are endorsed while another’s quest for sovereignty is obstructed.
The disparity in treatment raises critical questions about equity and fairness in the arena of tribal rights and federal recognition. Why is the gaming endeavor of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians being encouraged, while the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s efforts to reclaim their rights are thwarted? This situation exemplifies a selective application of federal policies concerning indigenous rights and reflects a broader historical disregard for the sovereignty of Native peoples.
Meanwhile, the Koi Nation, a landless tribe of 96 members has teamed up with the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, which owns the biggest casino in the world, is planning to build a $600 million casino, a 400-room hotel, and 2,500 slot machines on a 68-acre parcel the tribe bought for $12.3 million in Sonoma County in 2021, which secured approval from the Biden Administration this week.
Rep. Tom Cole, a prominent member of the Chickasaw Nation, wields significant influence as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, where he plays a critical role in shaping federal funding decisions, including those affecting Native American programs and tribes. His unique position not only allows him to advocate for resources and federal decisions at the Bureau of Indian Affairs that benefit his own tribe, but also enables him to champion broader issues related to Native American rights and sovereignty on a national stage.
The Chickasaw Nation is financing the Koi Nation’s proposed casino in Windsor, CA. The Chickasaw Nation is one of the most wealthy Indian tribes in the United States. It has operated successful oil and gas businesses for nearly 100-years, and operates successful gaming venues in Oklahoma. It manages several billion dollars in sovereign wealth.
Cole’s background as a tribal leader, combined with his legislative expertise, provides him with a powerful platform to address the challenges faced by indigenous communities, drive discussions on gaming rights and federal recognition, and promote economic development initiatives that can bolster the interests of tribes across the United States. As a seasoned lawmaker, his decisions and priorities can significantly impact how federal policies are crafted and implemented, particularly in areas critical to tribal communities’ welfare.
Some political observers believe that Cole has been simultaneously wielding his influence to thwart the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s struggle for affirmation in the eyes of the federal government, while also pressuring the Department of the Interior to move land into federal trust to enable the Koi Nation to construct its casino project — which would be a lucrative endeavor for his Chickasaw Nation.
The situation suggests that the ongoing battle against the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s recognition appears rooted more in political maneuvering than in the principles of justice and equal treatment for indigenous populations.
As these tensions unfold, the implications extend beyond tribal boundaries, impacting broader conversations about the rights of individuals and the authority of federal legislative bodies over tribal sovereignty. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s challenges underline an ongoing struggle for many indigenous communities across the nation, where issues of recognition and economic opportunities become entangled in the ever-complex legal and political frameworks imposed by federal law.
Ultimately, the scenario reflects a need for a renewed discussion around the policies governing tribal recognition, gaming rights, and the rights of indigenous peoples in America. The challenge for Congress, moving forward, will be to reconcile these conflicts while respecting the sovereignty and heritage of all tribes involved. As the debate continues, it is evident that true progress will necessitate a more equitable treatment of all tribes seeking to assert their rights and claim their spaces.
One of California’s foremost anthropologists and expert in the Bay Area’s pre-contact history, Dr. Randy Milliken, analyzed the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians:
The problem the Ohlone Tribes face is their ancestral land they seek to recover though federal recognition is too valuable! The real estate property would be worth billions of dollars. This is why government basically ignore their please to recover their ancestral land from the San Francisco Bay to Monterey and East to the San Joaquin Valley. The Ohlone Tribes best bet is to make a deal the U.S. Government receiving a forth of the land back and giving up rights to the other three forths. Believe me, this would be the only way the Ohlone Tribes get anything. “Are you listening Ohlone Tribes. “