United States Dep,arment of the Interi~r 

OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR 

Washington, D.C. 20240 

SF 02 1998 

1 

Barry W. Brandon, Esquire 

General Counsel 

National lndian Gaming Commission Lo t;3 

Ninth Floor a .LJ=-~ 

1441 L Street, N.W. - :x* 

r? :--;-, 3 .+----7, 

Washington, DC 20005 , .:-A - :;E C: $25 . ;;B,~ 

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a Dear Barry: g --::-< 

2. r.? 

5 ssw 

This letter is in reply to your inquiry of May 1 1, 1998 concerning the Shodakak 

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Casino. You requested my office to make the following determinations: 

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(1) whether the casino is located on the Coyote Valley Reservation; and 

(2) whether the Coyote Valley Reservation constitutes "Indian lands" as defined in 

the lndian Gaming Regulatory Act at 25 U.S.C. 52703 (4). 

I assigned this inquiry to one of my staff attorneys, Angela Kelsey. She has 

obtained factual information that clearly demonstrates that the Shodakai Casino is tb 

located on the Coyote Valley Reservation. In addition, she has obtained 1 

documentation that the reservation is being held in trust by the United States for 

the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo lndians of California. Based upon these facts and 

the Band's status as a federally recognized lndian tribe, she has concluded that the 

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Coyote Valley Reservation meets the legal definition of "Indian lands" that is set - Q 

forth at 25 U.S.C. 52703 (4). - (s- 1. 

Ms. Kelsey reports that Carmen Fazio, the BIA Realty Officer in the Sacramento 

Area Office, gave her copies of property records indicating that the title to the land 

u@n which the Coyote Valley Reservation is located is being held in trust by the 

United States for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California. This land 

was acquired in 1979 through a grant deed by Hilmer and Vivian Finne and Blanche 

and Theodore Richey to the United States in trust for the Coyote Valley Band. The 

deed was duly recorded on October 3, 1979, but was subsequently re-recorded on 

April 3, 1980 to reflect the acceptance of the conveyance in trust by the United 

States. The referenced property was declared a reservation by the Secretary of the 

Interior on June 23, 1989 in accordance with the provisions of 25 U.S.C. 5467. A 

public notice of the declaration was published at 54 Fed. Reg. 30953 on July 25, 

1989. Copies of the deed and notice are enclosed with this letter. 

To obtain confirmation that the Shodakai Casino is located on the reservation by 

someone who had actually visited it, Ms. Kelsey telephoned a NlGC field 
. ' .investigator in ~.alifornia, Gre'g Bergfeld. MI: Bergfeldstated that.he ti'ad 

visited the Shodakai Casino on at least one occasion and that it was located within 

the external boundaries of the Coyote Valley Reservation. If additional information 

is required, Mr. Bergfeld can be reached at (209) 245-4941. 

The definition of "lndian lands" is set forth at 25 U.S. C. 52703 (4) and states 

The term "Indian lands" means-- 

(A) all lands within the limits of any lndian reservation; and 

(6) any lands title to which is either held in trust by the United States 

for the benefit of any lndian tribe or individual or held by any lndian 

tribe or individual subject to restriction by the United States against 

alienation and over which an lridian tribe exercises governmental 

power. 

The facts presented indicate that the Shodakai Casino is located on the Coyote 

Valley Reservation. The Coyote Valley Reservation was established for the Coyote 

Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California and the United States holds the legal title 

in trust for the Band. Given the aforementioned facts, the Coyote Valley 

Reservation meets the definition of "Indian lands" set forth in the IGRA at 25 

U.S.C. 52703 (4). 

If you have additional questions or requests concerning this matter, please contact 

Angela Kelsey at (202) 21 9-2407. 

Sincerely, 

Derril B. 3ordan 

Associate Solicitor 

Division of lndian Affairs 

Enclosures 
. . $+I. .. d. .. ' -. I. . . ~ed&lalR'&it&':f: Val;. s;; No; i4i. / :Tueida$ july.'&:jg&r/j~~tiie~. . : : ; ! 1. 30953: I 

3.:. i. ... 

7 

2. .ade secrets or commercial property.sisi.:r . &ginning .at .a point marke&..!!?b- ' Ree&&;t;lPage 81, Mend&no-Cobnty: .I::'. 

. . . BU~ it3 patentab~e.matedd snd;-.:f --cr-:.r:: standing in &e:&arm&of~ussf~.~fV~F~I ..Reco&... .. :. . .: -..-....... ..i:i:.!:i~ . . - peraonal Lnlonnstfonedncdrhing ::. :;:.;:;Ti at the j~&on of~POrSythr~eW$i~ .i.:~~5~~~.~l &rt~~m~jpmpeay .: ;: 

. individuals associated with the . .: . :--:::.: theweat fdrkbf Russi&i.River;fmm.~~:.:ri described lo &e.~eed.from:~k&:~me, !,:< . 

.. applica~orurdi~c1~sum of wblch.would which on tbe l7tb day of Decembit.lm ek w.to.blm~ S~Murp~y;eL:a~F.; ,!i,.:;i \:; . constitute a clearly. iinwaiisdedf. ?j:i:-.,1 an alder. tree irn&footfii &deter lkiiei!:~:.' ,torg,,g.~g-bo 1929~ hk 9,: ! 

. . inva&ion~f.pmonal:~p~vady.i:; -:-.I. ;--::,.: no& 68 \oest;'4 &&RIth&QQwy , .:-'-- yepc.: ": .. ,Officicik~k-Riicords. Page 3i;'h41Gdocinat c.2 t 

- hh. Whifkd J&g$eh;,thb .,:.-,-':.:-;.if &bees 4$.weit;~~.~&660ii&:~cOf't,: ,.,R~&&;.,: . . .;.:.: ; ....... .a,. 

..... :. . ..-,. .: ,>. Committee~Managernent.Officer; 1 . .; .i .:, btlk:ofHeal~fsS~efy'&~h.~a~,of .. ;: :. :(. : -, -. .: , .-,.,.,: 

5- :. . Nation3 Cancer Instibte,.BuiIding 31:' -, :. . the Yokayo Radchb; a~&f&de:tjf .i&~i~-.: ' 

@;SU.&it c&a&.& p&itj ?...i.:;;,: ! .;;. R~~~ 10AOB; Nationfil ~~~tu~es oIII. ,-:-! 2 feei to ap*&t~the +ent&r;fftt;'gr rrrr~:..,:: : ., ej.@bd tn the peed.~~Fre4:Fisnkc'~~i ' 

'. i:' . -!,*,.,. .. et,w .@ J.. E. R~sell,e.t. tk, i&orded;:.,:i;. yealtti,~e~esda,.~kjIan.d 20892 (301- .:. Califohtia State HI&Cij-*hH&: -,:: 

6; 49657081 apmvjde-s.-+e, of be .;> point post ,,jbrkea;rw beara no^::.:^-. JJY @i.'m in Book.52OE!dal~~*ii,i ". Page ~l;,Mendocino C&VqtjtRecords. ,::. . , . meeting aqd esters of committee :'s ?;::. :.. 89 degrees.45!~~&s~i~f<etidf$i&i;~~~.+i:;1 . . ..: 

wmhen upqn reque8u s+:i ,.; ,; : .:; : .:;&enc& i$dng & &dta ~&dfa+~-i-~ , . .-- . . (7). .m.@at cer(ah real pI'6pew~! ; ::. . , 

$; .- : : Dr, john:AbreIl, Ewerntive Semteryi ;. I. I high&$.nci& ,b.~.dbe&.m weeti.?? :; y.. des@.%d ... ~ the Deed hrn ,.- ~ied.Flnn~e<~i+-;. .. .. g:.. ... ~e,li~~~&~~~~~~~~~.~~~~

.-;.c~:. ?.:iy:, .la& fh~gt* st;a$&4i&$&B:of-&{dX- et ux,. to State of Cd3ogua:recorded .. <lr. . - .... . . a 2 .. ~om~tte~~~~ti~~~~~~~~~~~~ti@t~,: ~i~h&t siqvbii doinii*6it?ji. Feb~iuy 11,- 1948. in B~ok'rl~ Clffidd -->.. . 

g;:. .. .. .Weslwobd &&fjng;&dm 894, N~~onal.. ; . ~o;g~! of th~~6da$,~ai~&,;~~p.:, :Record%-hie 264 ~endocirj&~b&ty.::.. - .Rec,j&+$?7i; ;.-;:.:.. :..L~:.c.'-:, . , ! . :-! .'> ' 

.c:- .; Institutes-of Health, Bethesaa, Mtlrylmd south la demes'west, 12$45feet1:;?i:.r~-:" . .: :::.:::< ..:,- ;::.-.: ; . -. - . ...;.. 5. 5:: 20892'(301+6+767)-1yi& ,,.,,(, diit-&iiit:lhWe ]eaa&-igiid (81, &a6ckrtalol0ri!dpibPitity..: .-... i xi:.:? . _ :< , . substaqiive prom h.f6&tio+,: . :ii,r_.. -!&crthtzo ;d+.+~$+jr,g;iasfl~~~~'~T, &ciipedin. && D&d $f. I. . DYe& , , . *3!&f$&f .tb%-& .$L~.&&~~&,-~C&~~;~ e~ .* * .t. 0 F*, wu&,i&'$&&d ,~~~r. Jdy zs 1% .ii:~,'-i;Z~i.?~.~.::~ :;- .>, :::l!.?:+ oak P. B~h=bca:g8:Gk: kkdyi$. C.iwg,.,.l Bbo..202 omdB &clhi.y '., f' %- . Betty-l;:~dge; . :..,I,-, ;c,.,;.:?:.s.:. :, .. : z*' 

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Comii!iIhM,,,,r ofioik NI,I.,: ..,;is *'X-BTRED"b@&$ fib& ip diw&BBwp ;:. Page 138, Mendocino CO&@ ~e&rdsi+!? 

;; .. - east, 13?fk6f&stciq<. 'r;vhite &i+fT':: . '. ~axi$~2Thiit *oitiinj 5f 124'of .... .:;,?;* - 

- PR ~?;8?-1?414 ~ded.t%& 8:45 amj :, ;.: tree 18 h&~~ i* di8mefei*aikediraX1-;~: ~++j,~&~y aid ~b~..b~~~k:.-.:.I: '. :.'. ,.. m:CddE:,j(bb,h :..: , 2 ., : .- ' , '. 

..:>;. . g ..... : : . . BT-RED'* tiean no~th-59 egees 45' :'.:::L ~an.+ri,bo~?ded ontb&i6~ bf;",$j;?i . . . 

,A,.'. . : :... :.. ......... ... ' east; 197.40 feet distant.'&ence'south'87.~' west'erty pii$origation oftbe:couyse~ i.-i.;: , . . . - -.. -. . ... :.: degrees 53' e&, 2318.82 feet to a'$talie.:.;' having aibearing and 1ength:of north 87 ' . i. DEPART~~EN~OF THE ~,~?ER~oR '. :' : g '&e!east J& :.' . iaid&,t 324 fib& $;:.-. degrekis3*.wes/ f~ec %~&d:;>*i;, . , .. ........... $. -.... ,...; .-.. ,. ..... ;- :. .,... ...- 

9 'of'lrjdi&*~ff~i~~ '. ; ..; -2 ,:.i; ;.: '- :;'. :' ,.which a, white:qak, tr;e&.@ :~&& iff:,- ,';::. bm William Finne to.Leimiel Kef'M3i;'3i;'i.:a L. ............. . 4': 

.: ... il : ?. . . . . . diameter m@ced:''FBT+l'&; bears: ":: .'- dated No+~~6eri7,.193~~;&~ed'&?~:v~ 

.. ,. ~stab[&&nfd hi:& l;idlan.:, ... *.::: north 20 degrees wesC62-feet'ilfstant :,' .. ~iber i~.'pa& 272 of Offfdal ~tjcoids;','? . .... Reservauqns In CalHo!nla:.;:: -: *. .; :. i:. and a blackoak tree.16 inches in,-': r ; ::.' of M&CI&&J CGunty; ori' the:sou&east :..: ........ .. .> .;... : .:. : diameter miirked :'~-~~-FEll".bean .;: ::: ' by. the, y.6g.i~ said D&d hi;n'ng:a'.,,'..:2. AGEHCY: ~&e'a,u of ~n~&~~air~.::.;.>i~;-tT' south io d&e&a+.&scw feet &atant;> be- _I, :. lkgtb bf~.u&th~~a~<g:~; , 

... ...J. ..... 1 b-,. ... Interior- . ............ ;,$:.: thence.south 17 degrees east. along the :. 4v.weqt 2013.49 feet; and bp .......... :., 

c?' :,'- . ..ACFION: Reservatio'n ,QocIama'tion for ;-.::, east fine of said Lbt 12d.lW3.feet to the southG+jt bp ~e cos3e in &e ;;,:,I ;: . :.:r, :. ,... 

;r., -.-. .. Hopland; Coyote Valley and Karok: - . . center of the charinel of Russlah-Rivei;'":. north&si;?;iy line,o'f the ~ii(ia&~ai:.I-:. ..,. . I. .... .. .... -. .. ...: .;.: ; ., ..?-. ::...; thence.,doivn the ~ent~i-t~f'th~;&~Wel of;... dei&bkd .wain Deed f&&~&l E;.::::;:; 1 .. i::: .... .... noti== i4:p&is4ed ,@,the : :. .: , .:.. : said river end following iQ meiinderings '. petm&,.&C&to sk.staie.bi.'i., :,';"'-! - ;.:.. G*; :. . exercise oIauthori6 .ddIe'gkteddby the:-.; ,, to the pobt of beginning being of, w-a;.db~d pd~+jo~~iw;~i; :.i;: . :._. 

. . ., Secretarg of the hterior to the l\ssistiint fit 124 d He81ey*& s~ky ~'~~ol.; remrdedi+ lB, pa'B+s*.e;bf .i; s .. *. :' . Seuetary4ndian-Affairsby 209 DM:: i. - he Yokayo Rancho. ;.;. .. i....::tt.;.ir .::: . -......,.......... . ,; :?!: 8.1. N0tig:i.s hereby .given bat, under.,: ;:i.. official ~i&ids::~dntliri41g ?57.76jk+"a'.~? ... .... :.-. . '..: - ...-.., >-&. Savin~-i;i;~&&bhg,menehmi . ., -.. -; re orless; after th'e ahve&cep&one . . c:l.r. the authority of Section 7 of tbe Act of, ,,I: . -.... .. -.'., .... :.. :- ............ .. - ?' . ..... ..... .....,. :> :.;,.:::: . -..*a: -. . , .. ..-.. - Jme.18, lW (48. StaCoW S U.S.C. 467). : (1) h m& prbperty, . dL-: Hopbpd Raqnation.~ ;i i.; :,.+;.~c.;c 5, i ... ..... ... ..... t. -.. ' he herebafter described lands located. a: described $ &e Deed tom WU~ . . Mo~i~id~~6~~~fidj.~

; 2: 

* 

,.' . in.Mendocino and Siskiyou Counties;.--.. ; F-e to Leonard Bruee&,.recorded;.: - ay9w;;&yek?a-::.- .:, .-- .> :, . .*:.. 3. ':. California ...ye re proclaimed to be hdian-. December 1% 1918, in ~~~k 139 of..: -.. ,................ :. .: ..... .:; . -.-:* ... .:. '1'. -- . reservations. effective June 23,1989. for - Deeds, Page a Men*&o county . , :Those certain parcel# of land as ~iateci..~ 

;:;. .the exclusive useof Indians,entitled b$. Records. ... -.:::-: . :. .... .:- . . .... below. being portions of the Sections.lO;.: 

2' --. ' e~.o*lmen?or tibal membership : .: , (2),AI1 that c&tain:real p~operty. , . . 11.15, and 22 To~lshipl3.Nortb,.R.ange : :i.; ' residence at such reservation. ,... 

8. 

. :. described ixi the Deed from Fred Finne. , 11 West all located within the exterior 'a'- 

- Ciyote Valley Reservation : : i: ... et. ux. to A. 0. Boyd, recorded . - . Boundaries of the Hopland Rancheria as . ......... September 17.1924. in;Book 170 of- shown on the Record-of Survey of the : .: - g+. Mount ~iablo'~eridan, Meqdocino ; . Deeds, Page 381, Mendo&. coDnly ~~~la~d Panderia recorded May-= -8- 2.; County, Ca/i/ornia . . . Records. . - \ :. 1984.-in Case 2 of Maps. Drawer.3, Page !. Y - ,:. .. Those portions of the north half of the (3) All that certain real property ... 14. in the Office of the Recorder, County: 5;;; solitheast.quarter of the southeast : . : : described in the Deed from Fred Pinne, of Mendocino. State of California: Parcel $-' ... --wfer of section 9,.Township 18 North; et. ux. to Mrs; Ella Boyd, recorded . Six (6). :. .- ..... 

. . - . ... .i' .: . Se 12 West. described'as follows: - - September Zl, 1943,.in Book.1~~ of 0. R., Parcel Forty-eight [48);.excepting.: : '. 

~rcel1: Nlthat a portion of the .. '. Page 426. Mendocino County Records. ' therefrom the following: ~eginningatthe' 

5 hollowing described real property lying;.- (4);'All that certain rea1:property.:-:.:' southeast corner of said Parcel4&:*.-:....' 

Cli..: northerlpand'easterly of the most. . - :-...I: described in the Deeafrom Fred Finne, -:.: theiceNorth 89 degiees.48'.~esf.;301.52': 

 easterly line of Highway 101 as it ...:.I. i..: et: %lo L.N;Barbdr.~recokded ........ feet: then& iira-northeesterlp iilrection. " F.,' existed .January 1: !g~g: I. .::. .... :c -:..?: Decemtier6;1928;in.Book-37 official . to the northeast cornerof tfaid.Panel'4W: 

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