The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians hail from neighboring lands that stretch from the vineyards of wine country to the redwood forests of Northern California.
Their ancestors spoke different languages, but for generations communicated through the universal gestures of dance. And both tribes have persevered despite a history of violence at the hands of outsiders and their forced removal from territory they’ve called home for centuries.
Now, a dispute over a casino has driven a wedge between the two tribes and raised questions about the U.S. government’s approach to making amends for stealing their lands and threatening their cultures.
