Shinnecock Solidarity - Monument Signs Project

Background Information:

NY Times, Newsday 1, Newsday 2

5/28/19 Shinnecock Nation Press Release 

Immediate Support:

Letters and calls to -

  • New York State Attorney General Letitia James
  • Contact Information
  • What to say: “Shinnecock Nation is a sovereign nation and has the right to build on its land and pursue commerce free from civil regulatory restrictions improperly imposed by New York State. You need to respect indigenous sovereignty.”

  • Congressman Lee Zeldin
  • Contact Information
  • Facebook & Twitter
  • What to say: “You are not acting in the interest of the original people of this Island that you are supposed to represent. Respect Shinnecock sovereignty and support their right to build on their land without retribution from New York State.”

  • Letters to the Editor and opinion pieces in local papers

  • Guidelines for sending LTEs to any of the 20 local Herald papers around Long Island:

TALKING POINTS TO INCLUDE:

GENERAL 

  • Shinnecock Nation is a sovereign nation and has the right to build on its land and pursue commerce free from civil regulatory restrictions improperly imposed by New York State.
  • One of the inherent attributes of tribal sovereignty possessed by federally-recognized Indian nations is immunity from suit. Accordingly, the Nation, its officials, and its agents acting in furtherance of the Nation’s authority are immune from any and all legal proceedings brought in State courts.
  • The State’s lawsuit against Shinnecock officials is a thinly veiled attack on the Shinnecock Nation and their right of self-determination. Throughout their history, their lands and economic future have been taken by the State and the surrounding community.
  • The Nation’s goal is simply to generate revenue to provide for their people. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • Reservation has limited economic development potential.
  • Tribal residents cannot “alienate” land, so members cannot even get a home equity loan. People max out credit cards to build or improve houses.
  • Traditional economic stepping stones are not available to Tribal members.

TOWN/STATE ARGUMENTS NOT LEGITIMATE

  • Aesthetic concerns about the sign should be compared with:
  • View of nearby 100 foot cell tower on the same road – nearly twice the size of the tribal monument sign.  
  • 400 years of development surrounding and submerging Shinnecock homelands.
  • Current unsightly development within sight of Shinnecock lands.
  • The Shinnecock community lives on a reservation across Heady Creek from Dune Road. Within recent generations, Shinnecock people have had their view of dune road obstructed by expansive development. In contrast, those new houses on Dune Road continue to have an unblemished view of undeveloped reservations lands. Shinnecock people have lost the aesthetic environment to the Shinnecock view has been diminished by surrounding projects.

HISTORICAL EQUITY

  • Tribe has not been treated well historically.
  • The historical trauma of land loss and relocation causes present socioeconomic harm to Shinnecock people.
  • Surrounding non-tribal has been developed to build fortunes and businesses and Tribe not allowed earn revenue to provide necessary social services.  
  • Tribal community was forced to move its historic settlement at Westwoods when canal was built and railroad came through (mid-nineteenth century).
  • Reaction to this monument is continuation of a constant, relentless attempts to impede Tribal interests and social progress.