Soboba Tribe Case Study
Soboba: A Federally Recognized Tribe Reclaims Their Rancheria
In 1888, the California Supreme Court adjudicated the Soboba tribe’s aboriginal occupancy rights over certain Mexican grant lands. This case, known as Byrne v. Alas, 74 Cal. 628, 16 Pac. 523 (1888) , resolved a dispute between plaintiff Byrne and the defendant Alas (and several other Soboba Indians), who both claimed title to the lands under the Estadillo grant. This land grant was confirmed under the 1851 Act of Congress that required the filing of lands with the federal Land Claims Board. Alas and the Indians, like Rogerio Rocha, were living on the lands within the Estadillo grant. The plaintiff, however, succeeding in filing the land grant within the two year period and therefore
In 1888, the California Supreme Court adjudicated the Soboba tribe’s aboriginal occupancy rights over certain Mexican grant lands. This case, known as Byrne v. Alas, 74 Cal. 628, 16 Pac. 523 (1888) , resolved a dispute between plaintiff Byrne and the defendant Alas (and several other Soboba Indians), who both claimed title to the lands under the Estadillo grant. This land grant was confirmed under the 1851 Act of Congress that required the filing of lands with the federal Land Claims Board. Alas and the Indians, like Rogerio Rocha, were living on the lands within the Estadillo grant. The plaintiff, however, succeeding in filing the land grant within the two year period and therefore