The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the Mishewal Wappo Tribe of the Alexander Valley based in California’s Napa wine country, in its pursuit of federal recognition.
The 345-member tribe had sued the U.S. Department of the Interior to try to get a reversal of a 50-year old decision. The appeals court ruled that the tribe waited too long to file the suit and that the statute of limitations has expired.
Napa County has opposed the tribe since its efforts to regain recognition began in 2009. It fears that the tribe would seek to build a casino in wine country if it wins. This would violate the County law protecting agricultural land. Any change to agriculture land requires a vote of the county’s voters.
