The Koi Nation of Northern California has garnered widespread support from various entities, including elected officials, public agencies, tribal governments and community members, for its proposed Shiloh Resort & Casino project in unincorporated Sonoma County.
The coalition backing the project includes notable figures and groups such as California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, the Northern California Carpenters Union, retired law enforcement personnel like Lake County Sheriff Bryan Martin and former Santa Rosa City Councilmembers Tom Schwedhelm and John Sawyer.
Additionally, numerous tribes, environmentalists like actor Peter Coyote and public agencies such as the Sonoma County Fire District stand among the supporters.
Chairman Darin Beltran of the Koi Nation Tribal Council said: “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.
"It is our hope that tribal governments continue to join the eighteen of our brother and sister tribes that have already voiced support and advocacy for our people’s long-overdue effort to build a self-sustaining economic future through the placement of land into trust for gaming purposes.”
This announcement arrives as the Koi Nation awaits the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approval of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. The EA's public review period concluded in November 2023 after its issuance in September 2023, signalling a crucial step in the approval process.
This project, set to include a 400-room hotel, diverse entertainment facilities and gaming options, aligns with the Koi Nation's pursuit of economic self-reliance and restoration.
Notably in 2022, the Koi Nation previously announced a partnership with Oklahoma's Chickasaw Nation for the development of the Shiloh Casino & Resort. Global Gaming Solutions (GGS), a business entity of the Chickasaw Nation, oversees the management and operation of the facility upon completion.
