April 9, 2025
FAIRFIELD – The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has donated another $1 million toward Solano County Health & Social Services programs – bringing its total over eight years to $8.5 million.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the intergovernmental agreement that allows the gift. It also approved an appropriations transfer recognizing the unanticipated revenue.
“This partnership has funded programs such as Vibe Solano, the Mobile Food Pharmacy, Helping Families with Basic Needs, the Vallejo First 5 Center, High School Diplomas for Adults, Increasing Access to Transportation for Seniors, Transition Support for At Risk Youth, and Promoting Youth Workforce Development. Numerous families throughout Solano County have benefitted from these programs and the programs have evolved to meet the needs of the residents of Solano County,” the staff report to the board states.
This funding supports four programs:
1) Helping Families: Support for Helping Families with Basic Needs and services at the Vallejo First 5 Center.
2) Mobile Food Pharmacy and Food Rx: Bring healthy and nutritious food to those in need via health clinics and throughout Solano County.
3) VibeSolano: Innovative equity engagement to reduce health disparities by improving the health outcomes of those who otherwise may fall through the cracks.
4) Transition Support for At Risk Youth: Preparing youth to transition out of the juvenile justice system by providing them Chromebooks, mentoring, housing support, and more.
Part of the Patwin people, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, has long considered Solano County as part of its ancestral homeland.
It is part of a legal battle with a Pomo Indians tribe from Lake County over a proposal to build an eight-story casino and hotel, as well as a small tribal housing project near Interstate 89 at the Highway 37 exit.
The state Department of Interior has put the land in trust for the Scotts Valley Band, but also has decided to take a second look at the project.
“The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is a sovereign Native American nation which holds ancestral territory within the boundaries of Solano County. Yocha Dehe remains committed to improving the environment, education status, and the health, safety and general welfare of not only its citizens, but Native American and non-Native American people throughout California,” the staff report states.
Gaming revenues from the Cache Creek Casino Resort enable Yocha Dehe to provide the funding.