::: Buena Vista Rancheria - Me-Wuk Indians :::

TRIBAL NEWS

January 15, 2010 - The Buena Vista Casino project is proceeding as planned. The Tribe is still awaiting the issuance of the federal permits it requires before breaking ground on the casino construction; it anticipates that the permits should be issued within the first couple months of 2010. Once the permits are issued, the Tribe will seek financing for the casino construction costs. In the meantime, for the past several months, the Tribe has been working steadily with the County of Amador and other local agencies in the implementation of pre-opening mitigation measures, such as road improvements, groundwater monitoring and fire station improvements.

January 14, 2009 - Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians announces economic investment plans and construction updates for its Tribal gaming facility
Amador County slated to receive millions of dollars annually for public services
SACRAMENTO — The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians today announced construction and planned economic investment dollars for the region stemming from its Tribal gaming facility to be built on Tribal land near Ione, Calif. The Tribe also responded to the January 8 decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Amador County against the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the Buena Vista Tribe's Compact with the State of California, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“We have always maintained the County's lawsuit was without merit and we are gratified by the court’s decision to dismiss the complaint. We hope the County focuses its efforts on working with the Tribe on implementing off-reservation mitigations and investing millions of dollars set to be paid to the County by the Tribe. Delays on our project have already cost the County potentially millions of public services dollars and hundreds of good-paying jobs.” said John Tang, CEO of the Buena Vista Rancheria. (more - full pdf printable version)

June 18, 2008 - Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians proceed with final Intergovernmental Services Agreement for off-reservation mitigation
of Tribal gaming facility -Amador County to receive more than $8 million annually for public safety services - Under rules established by a Tribal-State Gaming Compact signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians today announced that its final Intergovernmental Services Agreement (ISA) with Amador County will provide for off-reservation mitigation measures related to the Tribal gaming facility to be built on its Rancheria land. (more - full pdf printable version)

January 29, 2008 – Tribal Council of the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians Announced it has Negotiated a Proposed Intergovernmental Services Agreement with Amador County - Staff from the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians today announced a proposed agreement with Amador County officials regarding a package of mitigations for off- reservation impacts of a proposed gaming facility on Tribal lands near Ione, Calif. The recommended Intergovernmental Services Agreement (ISA) marks the close of discussions between Tribal and County leaders as required by the Tribal Compact with the State of California prior to the Tribe opening a Gaming and Entertainment Facility on the Buena Vista
Rancheria. (more - full pdf printable version)

September 21, 2007 –The Buena Vista Childcare Center is a licensed childcare center providing non-medical care to children up to 5 years, 9 months of age. The Center will provide personal services, supervision, and assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living for children. The Center will be unique in that it will specialize in activities that support child brain development, social skill development, and long term academic success. The centers hours are M-F, 7:30am – 5:30pm. These services will be provided to preschoolers in a group setting. Age appropriate lessons or experience with indigenous languages, music, dance, drama, handwork, painting, modeling, puppetry, field trips and gardening are an integrated part of the basic services offered.

February 21, 2007 – The Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians continues to seek comments from the public regarding its proposed casino project south of Ione. MORE>

January 26, 2007 – The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians today released its Draft Tribal Environmental Impact Report (TEIR) for a proposed Gaming and Entertainment Facility on Tribal land near Ione. The new Draft TEIR process stemmed from a request by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office to amend a similar report released in 2005. Instead, the Tribe went a step further—started the process over from the beginning, prepared a new Draft TEIR, and proposed new alternatives, including a Phased Project. MORE>

February 24, 2006 – The Amador Ledger-Dispatch ran this full-page advertisement to the residents of Amador County. MORE>

February 13, 2006 – The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians announced plans to begin a new environmental report for its proposed Gaming and Entertainment Facility on Tribal land near Ione. MORE>

February 10, 2006 – The Buena Vista Rancheria’s official “Notice of Preparation” for a new Tribal Environmental Impact Report (TEIR) in 2006. MORE>

November 8, 2005 – Tribal Chairwoman Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope submitted two ballot arguments for Amador County voters to consider in voting for Measure I, an advisory vote related to the spread of off-reservation gaming. MORE 1> : MORE 2>

July 8, 2005 – The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) confirmed that the Buena Vista Rancheria is “Indian Land” as defined by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. MORE>

June 30, 2005 – The NIGC letter determined that the Tribe may legally conduct gaming on the land. MORE>

April 27, 2005 – Tribal Chairwoman Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope met with Amador County business owners about economic benefits of proposed casino project. MORE>

March 29, 2005 – In a letter to Amador County Supervisor Robert Forster, Tribal Chairwoman Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope comments on the Supervisor’s testimony before a Congressional committee. MORE>

December 30, 2004 – Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians Resolves Governance Dispute. Rhonda L. Morningstar Pope named as new Tribal Chairwoman. MORE>