"Yocha Dehe has applied to have 853 acres of our ancestral land in the Capay Valley placed into federal trust ownership for the tribe's benefit. It is land we bought on the open market.

Trust applications are governed by a federal law that reversed an unjust policy that took 100 million acres of Indian land for settlers, leaving Indians landless and impoverished. Trust acquisitions empower tribes to once again govern their own lands and people, and flourish as distinct cultures.

Yocha Dehe has outgrown our small trust parcels. We need more land to house our growing families and for governmental, cultural and agricultural purposes. We have followed all the rules in a rigorous, multiyear, federally controlled process that invites public involvement.

The editorial board suggests we don't need all 853 acres, given that we plan to develop only part. It suggests we have some ulterior development motive for the rest.

The Bee cannot know our tribe's needs."

Get the Story:
Marshall McKay: Tribe is devoted to farm preservation (The Sacramento Bee 2/14)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in modern day land grab (2/8)
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation defends land-into-trust application (2/7)
Editorial: Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation must work with county (2/5)
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation's land-into-trust plan questioned (2/4)