Koi Nation Pursues $600 Million Casino Project

The Koi Nation, a small landless tribe in Northern California, is pursuing a $600 million casino project, the Shiloh Resort and Casino, in collaboration with the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. A federal court ruling in 2019 enabled the tribe to seek land for the casino, and they are currently awaiting approval from U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to put a 68-acre parcel into trust. The project aims to provide economic opportunities and improve living conditions for the tribe's 96 members, but it faces significant opposition from other Native American tribes and local authorities over potential environmental and community impacts. Concerns have been raised about noise, traffic, and pollution in the wine country. If approved, the casino would feature 2,500 slot machines, a 400-room hotel, and various amenities, positioned near existing casinos in the area. The outcome of this project is seen as a litmus test for the U.S. government's efforts to rectify historical injustices against Indigenous peoples.