For the first time in more than 400 years, the Shinnecock Nation has reclaimed aboriginal land.
The Nation announced the purchase of land at 13 Indian Road in Hampton Bays, adjacent to West Woods, on May 21. On that day, the official transfer of the property, which had been privately held, was conducted by members of the Shinnecock Nation's Council of Trustees, who were joined by elders, community members, and former tribal leaders. The Nation describes the reclamation as a momentous occasion in its ongoing struggle for the restoration of its ancestral lands.
Its leadership invited the public to gather at West Woods that day for a ceremony to honor the land. It included a traditional smudging, song, and prayer to welcome the land back to its rightful stewardship. The gathering served to reaffirm the Nation's enduring connection to its ancestral territory.
The land, said to be about seven acres, is adjacent to the Nation's 20-pump gas station that has been under construction since last year, Rebekah Wise of the Shinnecock Nation said. "But in general, all the land is significant for us to have," she said.
"Our reclamation of this land is just the beginning -- it's a victory for our culture, our people, and our future," read a statement from the Shinnecock Nation. "It is an expression of unity, deep spiritual dedication, and a reaffirmation of our sacred duty to care for this land, as our ancestors did before us."
