Shinnecock Indian Nation
Encyclopedia
The Shinnecock Indian Nation is a federally recognized tribe, headquartered in Suffolk County, New York
, on the south shore of Long Island
. Shinnecock are an Algonquian
people from Long Island
. They now reside on the Shinnecock Reservation within the geographic boundaries of Southampton
on the east end of Long Island.
. The reservation has a museum, shellfish hatchery, education center, community center, playground, and Presbyterian church. The reservation is three miles (5 km) west of Southampton, New York. In 1903, it had a population of 150.
The Shinnecock are believed to have spoken a dialect of Mohegan-Pequot-Montauk, similar to their neighbors the Montaukett
on Long Island. Their western neighbors were Lenape
people who most likely spoke an R-dialect of Munsee. The languages became extinct sometime in the mid-19th century, as numbers of native speakers were drastically reduced. A few words have survived to the modern day.
They were culturally affiliated with, as well as politically subject to, the Pequot
and Narragansett
, the more powerful tribes of southern New England
across Long Island Sound
.
Like the other Native peoples of Long Island, the Shinnecock make wampompeag (wampum
), shell beads strung onto threads that were used as currency, record-keeping, and for aesthetic purposes. These shell beads have been found at inhabited sites as far west as the Rocky Mountains
, showing their value in trade. Although other New England tribes produced wampompeag, the Indians of Long Island are reputed to have made the best. The tribe was subject to raids by the Pequot
and other New England tribes to control this valuable trade commodity. The Europeans quickly learned the value of the Shinnecock wampompeag in trade with other tribes.
Indian populations declined due mostly to new infectious diseases carried by European colonists. In addition, their communities were disrupted by land encroachment by Dutch, and later English colonists. Many Shinnecock joined the Brothertown Indians
in New York and lost their distrinct community identity. Others intermarried with local colonists.
In 1703, a leasehold was established for tribal members in Southampton. In 1792, the state of New York passed a law reorganized the Shinnecock Indian Tribe as a trusteeship
. The law also established annual elections for three tribal trustees, which have continued from 1792 to the present. In fall of 2010 the Shinnecock gained a national reservation. For over two centuries, the trustees have managed the tribe's land and resources.
At the start of the 20th century, the Shinnecock were described as "daring seamen," and "furnishin[ing] efficient recruits to the United States Life Saving Service." In December 1876, ten Shinnecock men died while trying to save a ship stranded off East Hampton
. The tribe is famous in local lore for their heroic efforts. Through the 19th century, Shinnecock men were fishermen and sailors on whaling
ships.
, around the tribe’s reservation and billions of dollars in reparations
. The disputed property includes the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
, which Native American representatives say is the location of tribe burial grounds.
The core of the lawsuit is over a 1703 deal between Southampton and the tribe for a 1,000-year lease. The suit charges that a group of powerful investors conspired to break the lease in 1859 by sending the state Legislature a fraudulent petition from a number of Shinnecock tribesmen. Although other tribal members immediately protested that the petition was a forgery, the Legislature approved the sale of 3,500 acres (14 km²) of former tribal land.
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, on the south shore of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. Shinnecock are an Algonquian
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
people from Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. They now reside on the Shinnecock Reservation within the geographic boundaries of Southampton
Southampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
on the east end of Long Island.
Federal recognition
The Shinnecock were recognized by the United States government in June, 2010 after a 30-year court battle. The Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, George T. Skibine issued the final determination of the tribe's recognized status on June 13, 2010.Reservation
The Shinnecock Indian Reservation is a self-governing reservation. By 1859, the current borders of 800 acres (3.2 km²) were established. Every Labor Day Weekend the reservation hosts a powwowPowWow
PowWow is a wireless sensor network mote developed by the Cairn team of IRISA/INRIA. The platform is currently based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard radio transceiver and on an MSP430 microprocessor...
. The reservation has a museum, shellfish hatchery, education center, community center, playground, and Presbyterian church. The reservation is three miles (5 km) west of Southampton, New York. In 1903, it had a population of 150.
History
Montaukett
The Montaukett is an Algonquian-speaking Native American group native to the eastern end of Long Island, New York and one of the thirteen historical indigenous centers...
on Long Island. Their western neighbors were Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
people who most likely spoke an R-dialect of Munsee. The languages became extinct sometime in the mid-19th century, as numbers of native speakers were drastically reduced. A few words have survived to the modern day.
They were culturally affiliated with, as well as politically subject to, the Pequot
Pequot
Pequot people are a tribe of Native Americans who, in the 17th century, inhabited much of what is now Connecticut. They were of the Algonquian language family. The Pequot War and Mystic massacre reduced the Pequot's sociopolitical influence in southern New England...
and Narragansett
Narragansett
Narragansett may refer to:*Narragansett , a Pennsylvania Railroad train*Narragansett , an Amtrak train*Narragansett **Narragansett land claim*Narragansett, Rhode Island, a town*Narragansett Bay*Narragansett...
, the more powerful tribes of southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
across Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
.
Like the other Native peoples of Long Island, the Shinnecock make wampompeag (wampum
Wampum
Wampum are traditional, sacred shell beads of the Eastern Woodlands tribes of the indigenous people of North America. Wampum include the white shell beads fashioned from the North Atlantic channeled whelk shell; and the white and purple beads made from the quahog, or Western North Atlantic...
), shell beads strung onto threads that were used as currency, record-keeping, and for aesthetic purposes. These shell beads have been found at inhabited sites as far west as the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, showing their value in trade. Although other New England tribes produced wampompeag, the Indians of Long Island are reputed to have made the best. The tribe was subject to raids by the Pequot
Pequot
Pequot people are a tribe of Native Americans who, in the 17th century, inhabited much of what is now Connecticut. They were of the Algonquian language family. The Pequot War and Mystic massacre reduced the Pequot's sociopolitical influence in southern New England...
and other New England tribes to control this valuable trade commodity. The Europeans quickly learned the value of the Shinnecock wampompeag in trade with other tribes.
Indian populations declined due mostly to new infectious diseases carried by European colonists. In addition, their communities were disrupted by land encroachment by Dutch, and later English colonists. Many Shinnecock joined the Brothertown Indians
Brothertown Indians
The Brothertown Indians are Native American descendants of the Pequot and Mohegan tribes in southern New England...
in New York and lost their distrinct community identity. Others intermarried with local colonists.
In 1703, a leasehold was established for tribal members in Southampton. In 1792, the state of New York passed a law reorganized the Shinnecock Indian Tribe as a trusteeship
Trusteeship
Trusteeship may refer to*Trust law *Trusteeship *United Nations Trusteeship...
. The law also established annual elections for three tribal trustees, which have continued from 1792 to the present. In fall of 2010 the Shinnecock gained a national reservation. For over two centuries, the trustees have managed the tribe's land and resources.
At the start of the 20th century, the Shinnecock were described as "daring seamen," and "furnishin[ing] efficient recruits to the United States Life Saving Service." In December 1876, ten Shinnecock men died while trying to save a ship stranded off East Hampton
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
. The tribe is famous in local lore for their heroic efforts. Through the 19th century, Shinnecock men were fishermen and sailors on whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
ships.
Land claims dispute
In 2005 the nation filed a lawsuit against the state seeking the return of 3,500 acres (14 km²) in Southampton, New YorkSouthampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
, around the tribe’s reservation and billions of dollars in reparations
Reparation (legal)
In jurisprudence, reparation is replenishment of a previously inflicted loss by the criminal to the victim. Monetary restitution is a common form of reparation...
. The disputed property includes the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is a links-style golf club located in the hamlet of Shinnecock Hills in the town of Southampton on Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It has hosted the U.S. Open four times in three different centuries and will host the 2018 U.S. Open...
, which Native American representatives say is the location of tribe burial grounds.
The core of the lawsuit is over a 1703 deal between Southampton and the tribe for a 1,000-year lease. The suit charges that a group of powerful investors conspired to break the lease in 1859 by sending the state Legislature a fraudulent petition from a number of Shinnecock tribesmen. Although other tribal members immediately protested that the petition was a forgery, the Legislature approved the sale of 3,500 acres (14 km²) of former tribal land.
Casino proposals
The tribe has proposed building casinos in the past, but none have been established yet.External links
- Shinnecock Indian Nation, official web site
- "Shinnecock", Handbook of North American Indians, on Access Genealogy
- U.S. Recognizes Long Island Tribe, The New York Times, 15 June 2010