North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians

North Fork, CA

We are the North Fork Mono.  Like the glaciers that carved Yosemite Valley, we have been present in the region for over ten thousand years. We call ourselves Nim, which means "People." Our history spans thousands of years and can be told through stories handed down by each generation, told through the intricate designs in our basketry, and told through our grandmothers, grandfathers and all those before and after us...

The North Fork Rancheria (“Tribe”) is a sovereign Native American government of nearly 2,000 tribal citizens based in Madera County, California. Since the restoration of our federally-recognized status in 1983,  our Tribe has established modern tribal governing institutions to improve the lives of its tribal citizens, many of whom have limited access to basic housing, healthcare, employment, education and opportunity. The Mission of the Tribal Council, elected to represent the interests of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, is to protect, sustain, and enhance the health, welfare, culture and future of the Tribe.

Our Tribe is comprised primarily of Northfork Mono, a label given to us by an ethnographer in the 1910s to describe our people then living along and north of the San Joaquin River. By the early 20th Century, non-Native acquisition of lands in the San Joaquin Valley, both on the flat plain and the surrounding foothills, had resulted in Tribal citizens concentrating around the town of North Fork near the Sierra National Forest. This is how our Tribe became known as the North Fork Band or North Fork Mono. However, our Tribe's ancestors include members of Yokut and Miwok linguisitic groups. Further, the town of North Fork is only one place among many of significance to our Tribe, as our use and occupancy of lands in the San Joaquin Valley, and around the City of Madera in particular, is extensive.

After 20 years in the making, in September of 2024 the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California has broken ground on our casino in Madera - North Fork Mono Casino & Resort, which will feature high quality gaming entertainment with 200 slot machines and 40 table games. Our Food & beverage venues will include two full service restaurants and six quick-serve dining options.