The Graton Rancheria tribe (FIGR) has launched legal action against the Department of Interior to prevent the Koi Nation from building a casino in Sonoma County, California.

FIGR, which operates the Graton Hotel & Casino just 15 miles from the proposed site, claims the Koi Nation lacks legitimate ancestral ties to the land. This challenge comes as the project nears potential approval, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) recently completing its final environmental impact study.

The lawsuit argues that the BIA failed to properly investigate the Koi Nation's historical connections to the area. According to FIGR, the proposed casino site lies more than 50 miles south of the Koi Nation's aboriginal territory and historic rancheria.

Key points from the legal filing:

• The Southern Pomo tribes maintain distinct cultural and linguistic differences from the Southeastern Pomo Koi Nation
• These territorial boundaries have existed for thousands of years
• FIGR seeks to halt any final decisions until proper tribal consultation occurs

Koi Nation spokesperson Sam Singer dismissed the lawsuit as "meritless" and called it a strategic attempt to protect Graton's economic interests. The legal action names Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and several BIA officials as defendants.

The final decision on the casino project is expected after December 23, pending the outcome of this legal challenge.

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