The Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians is comprised of 477 members including children. The location of the largest acreage of Robinson Rancheria's land base is was approximately 107 acres. Most of the tribal property lies adjacent to State Highway 20 between the small communities of Upper Lake and Nice.
The site was purchased in 1981, as a result of a unique set of circumstances stemming from a settlement agreement between members of the Robinson Rancheria and the United States government (Mabel Duncan, et.al. v. United States of America, 667 F. 2nd 36 (Ct. Cl. 1981). The court case held that the U.S. government illegally terminated the reservation status of the Indians at Old Robinson in 1956.
In 1956, ninety percent of the tribal members were relocated to urban areas as part of the termination process. This caused a generation of cultural heritage to be shamefully repressed, and then lost to the next two generations. As a result tradition, culture, and language were almost lost. Based on the cited court case, federal recognition was re-instituted in the 1960s.
In the 1978, the Robinson Rancheria organized a tribal government and adopted a Tribal Constitution in 1980. During 1985, 41 housing units were constructed on land acquired through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A large number of tribal members now reside on the rancheria.
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