Amador County – The Ione Band of Miwok Indians last week announced that the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs had approved a fee-to-trust application by the tribe for 228 acres of land to build a casino in and around Plymouth in Amador County.

Tribal Chairwoman Yvonne Miller said the “Ione Band of Miwok, a federally-recognized indian tribal government, has been landless ever since their land was taken from them more than a century ago.”

Miller, in a release Friday, May 25 said that in the early 1900s, the United States government promised the Ione Band of Miwok Indians that it would restore its land base in Amador County. She said: “Today (May 25) the Ione Band was pleased to learn that the United States government has taken a giant step toward fulfilling that promise by issuing a notice of its decision to accept in trust 228 acres near Plymouth in response to the application of the Band.”

Miller said the Ione Band “has acquired rights to that land in order to have it held in trust by the United States for purposes of economic development of benefit to the Band and its members and their neighbors.”

Miller said “several generations of my people have waited for this day to come.” She said: “I am honored to stand in a long line of leaders who have worked hard to regain our land. And I am overwhelmed with joy as I tell our people we have come much closer to our promised land.”

She said “for generations we have welcomed others who have moved into areas next to these 228 acres and we have stood proudly with them in efforts to better our region. We look forward to working with our neighbors to make this trust land decision a win-win opportunity for jobs and economic growth for everyone in our community.”

The Department of the Interior announced the approval Friday, marking the start of a 30-day protest period on the decision to take the land into trust.

The project has been in the works in Plymouth since scoping sessions were held toward environmental documentation starting in 2004. A recall election removed three Plymouth City Council members from office in 2004 after they signed a Municipal Services Agreement with the tribe.

Miller said last week that the tribe is still planning to pursue its casino, which does not have a name because the project has been idle for so long. The project also includes a hotel, restaurants and other amenities.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.