Wilton Rancheria Once Again Federally Recognized

50 years after the federal government stripped away their status as a federally recognized tribe, the Wilton Rancheria is once again an official tribe.

The Wilton Miwok Indian Community is one of two groups of Native Americans that filed lawsuits in 2007 seeking to restore federal recognition. Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel acknowledged that the federal government’s actions were illegal in dropping the Rancheria’s tribal status and approved a settlement that restores federal recognition to the Wilton Rancheria.

Wilton was one of 41 California tribes that lost official status as a result of the California Rancheria Termination Act, Public Law 85-671. The act called for the distribution of all Rancheria lands and assets to individual tribe members.

Mary Tarango, co-chair of the Wilton Miwok Indian Community said, "This has been a long, drawn-out journey, but another one begins," said Mary Tarango, co-chair of the Wilton Miwok Indian Community.

The other group that will now be allowed to form a tribal government and write a constitution as a result of this settlement is the Me-Wuk Indian Community of Wilton Rancheria.

Henry Sangmaster, the head of the Me-Wuk said,” This is a time of joy and satisfaction for our people. It is an incredible feeling to know that our tribe is now officially unified and federally recognized."

The 40-acre Rancheria is about 24 miles southeast of Sacramento and consists of about 600 members.

The status as a federally recognized tribe will once again qualify the tribe to receive federal benefits available to other tribes, including college grants and health care.

As is always the case these days when a tribe is granted federal recognition the question of gaming arises.

Tarango said that gaming was not on their agenda and that right now they are focused on setting up their tribal government and working with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to confirm tribal membership.

"There are quite a few recognized tribes that aren’t in a gaming situation, and they’ve been able to do very well," she said. "There’s much more we need to focus on without even thinking about being out there with the big dogs, so to speak."