Sherwood Valley Band Becomes Third California Tribe to Oppose AB 831

The Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians has recently emerged as the third California tribe to voice strong opposition to California Assembly Bill 831, a legislative proposal that seeks to ban all forms of sweepstakes gaming within the state. By aligning with the Big Lagoon Rancheria and the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation of the Cortina Rancheria Tribe, the Sherwood Valley Band articulates a clear and united front. This alignment comes in response to the bill’s passage through the Assembly Appropriations Committee on August 18 with unanimous support. Tribal leaders emphasized that their position is not merely a matter of policy; it also pertains to the survival and economic sustainability of their communities.

In a formal letter to Chair Ann Caballero (D-Merced) and the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians underscored that the bill, now sitting in the committee’s “suspense file,” fails to reflect the unified perspective of California tribes. The sweeping ban presented by AB 831 poses significant risks to the economic foundations of smaller tribes, particularly those situated in rural areas. Traditional economic development has perennially been a struggle for these tribes, and gaming has often been their crucial economic driver

Tribal leaders also stress that digital platforms are more than business avenues—they are lifelines. These platforms offer vital support for essential services such as housing, healthcare, education, food security, and community programs. For the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, such services are indispensable. Buffey W. Bourassa, the tribe’s secretary, highlighted severe challenges including housing shortages, with multiple families being forced to share single homes, and high rates of homelessness hindering access to employment and healthcare. Scarcity of job opportunities in rural areas propels already vulnerable tribes into deeper economic distress, which is exacerbated by unreliable transportation and long travel distances for those able to work.

Poverty is an omnipresent issue in these tribal areas, with alarming statistics showing that approximately one in three residents lives below the poverty line. Food insecurity, cited in studies within the letter, affects rural Native households at a staggering rate of 92%, compared to a national average of just 14%. Confronted by these grim realities, the Sherwood Valley Band and its allies argue that AB 831, if enacted, would exacerbate these conditions. They call for the rejection of AB 831 and for legislators to seek alternative solutions that would empower tribes economically, tackle systemic