Hearing Held On Status Of Wappo Tribe

A hearing by the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee was held on June 27 in part to discuss the  Department of Interior's settlement negotiations with the Mishewal Wappo Tribe.

The tribe's historical lands encompassed parts of what are now Napa, Lake and Sonoma Counties. The tribe currently has about 350 members.

In January 2010, the tribe filed suit against U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. They charged that the federal government acted unlawfully when it disbanded the tribe.

In their lawsuit, the Mishewal Wappo Tribe is asking the U.S. Department of Interior to restore their tribal status, benefits and historic land rights. An act of Congress terminated federal recognition of the tribe in 1959. A successful lawsuit could result in the authorization of casino gambling on restored land. 

Congressman Mike Thompson, along with Representatives Lynn Woolsey and Don Young, wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in April 2011. The letter raised their concerns with the Department’s interest in settling this case with the Wappos. The representatives argued in the letter that it would be inappropriate for Interior to recognize the Wappos through a legal settlement because of the previous Congressional action that terminated federal recognition of the tribe.

Congressman Thompson issued the following statement regarding the hearing:

“The correct process for federal recognition of a congressionally derecognized tribe rests with Congress. The Wappo tribe is attempting to circumvent Congress and the Department of Interior by going through the courts. This is not in the best interest of the American people, and it’s not in the best interests of Napa and Sonoma Counties.

“By the tribal chair’s own admission, if the Wappos receive federal recognition, they will attempt to build a gaming facility in Napa or Sonoma Counties. In Napa and Sonoma Counties, developments such as a casino would damage our agricultural preserves and put our local economy at risk. This is the absolute wrong region to build a casino.” 

To read more click here.

Tell us what you think in the comments. Should the tribe be recognized? Should it take an Act of Congress to authorize recognition? Is the fear of another casino reason enough to deny recognition to the Wappo tribe?

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