Graton Rancheria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Graton Rancheria
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The Graton Rancheria was a special piece of land in northern California. It was about 15.45 acres (6.25 hectares) big. This land was located near Sebastopol and Graton. It was once a "rancheria," which is a small area set aside for Native American tribes. This land was home to parts of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok tribes.
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History of the Graton Rancheria
In the mid-1800s, many non-Native settlers moved into California. This caused many California Native Americans to lose their traditional lands. Some tribes signed treaties with the United States in 1851. These treaties promised land to the tribes. However, these agreements were never officially approved. This left many California tribes without any land at all.
In 1901, the United States Congress passed laws called the Homeless Indian Acts. These laws helped create "Indian colonies" and "rancherias" in California. These were lands bought for Native Americans in the area. A rancheria is a small plot of land. It was usually just big enough for homes and gardens.
An inspector named John J. Terrell tried to find land for the Coast Miwok people. He found that coastal lands were too expensive. So, he bought land further inland for Native Americans who were "homeless and landless."
In 1920, 75 Native Americans tried to move onto the Graton Rancheria land. But they found that only three acres were suitable for living. The land was hilly and covered in trees. It also did not have enough water. The rancheria was also far from places where people could find jobs.
Ending the Rancheria Status
By 1954, the government decided to end its special relationship with many California Native American tribes. This was called "termination." The idea was to help Native Americans fit into mainstream society. The Graton Rancheria's special status was ended by the U.S. government in 1958.
After this, a man named Frank Truvido kept one acre of the former rancheria. He had to sell other land to pay taxes. After he passed away, his land and house went to his daughter.
Greg Sarris, who is the Chairman of the modern Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, spoke to Congress in 2000. He explained that when the government checked the rancheria in 1958, most people were away for harvest season. They only found three families. These families were offered the chance to buy the land. This ended the rancheria's status as trust land. He said this happened "without the vote or the consensus of the rest of the members."
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria is the modern tribe. It used to be called the Federated Coast Miwok. This tribe is officially recognized by the U.S. government. They got their federal status back in 2000. The tribe is made up of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians.
Chairman Greg Sarris told Congress that 75 members moved onto the 15.45 acres in Graton in 1920.
On April 18, 2008, the tribe was able to buy 254 acres (1.03 square kilometers) of land.
Graton Resort & Casino
The Graton Rancheria is also the location of the Graton Resort & Casino. This casino opened in November 2013. The casino is actually located near Rohnert Park.
