Recent Developments in the Big Lagoon Rancheria v. State of California Case

Tag Archives: Coachella Valley Native American trust lawyer

In the case of Big Lagoon Rancheria v. State of California, the Ninth Circuit of Appeals ruled 2 to 1 that the state had no obligation to negotiate with the tribe on this parcel of land. The tribe wanted to use the land for a new gaming concept and wanted to negotiate under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Continue reading

The state of California is home to 108 federally recognized Native American tribes and approximately 84 non-recognized tribes. Federally recognized and non-federally recognized Native American tribes both have unique political governments. Non-federally recognized tribes continue to practice their traditional Native American forms of government, and lack official recognition from the United States government. Federally recognized tribes have Native American governmental authority over their lands. For purposes of this guide, LD-IGR addresses governments under the jurisdictions of federally recognized tribes. Continue reading

Native American tribes are now emerging from centuries of indifferent, hostile, and complex regulation by outside authorities. Native Tribes are recovering self-determination, and developing tribal sovereignty. Tribal governments must deal with complex legal issues, caused by economic development, tribal politics, and cultural expression, as well as legal and policy issues caused by interactions with non-tribal members, businesses and government. Continue reading

Bryan Newland recently wrote an article on Turtle Talk about a case that is under the California Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, hereinafter IGRA. It is a suit seeking to require negotiations for a class II gaming activity on Indian lands controlled by the Big Lagoon Ranchereia, an Indian Tribe. The decision against the Tribe and in favor of the State is what has intrigued us. Continue reading

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