[From the diaries by susanhu.]

I had been planning for some time now to write a diary about the recent Federal ruling recognizing the Shinnecock Nation of Eastern Long Island as a legitimate tribe. They have been struggling legally for many years now to attain this recognithion first I believe as a vehicle to fight for land they claim was illegally stripped from them in the 19th century, and second to begin the initial steps toward opening a gaming casino on thier land.

This seemed good news to me and undoubtedly the Shinnecocks and their supporters. Maybe I am naive but I did not believe that a Democratic Senator, Charles Schumer would pull what he pulled next.

Federal Ruling

Shinnecock Website/History

Schumer actually asked the B.I.A. (Bureau of Indian Affairs) to ignore the federal ruling and deny the Shinnecocks Tribal rights.

Sen. Schumer

“The Bureau of Indian Affairs should not be beholden to last week’s unprecedented decision by a federal judge. Tribal recognition will have very serious implications – it will help grease the skids for the Shinnecock’s misplaced casino effort – a disastrous prospect for residents on the East End of Long Island,” Schumer said.

(continued below …)

While I understand the concerns of the residents of Hampton Bays, L.I. and the hardships this will cause them, it is a small price to pay, at long last, for the crimes and atrocities committed against the Shinnecock over the last four hundred years. If this were to happen in my nieghborhood I would be concerned as well but personally I could live with it or move away because this is finally a way for this Nation to become self sufficient and able to make money other than by selling tax free cigarettes on the side of the road to rich Hamptonites. Fuckem I say.

Tribal Statement

The Shinnecock Indian Nation is one of the longest, continuously self-governing Tribes in the country. The 1,500-member State recognized Tribe believes that revenues from a gaming facility will help bring true self-reliance to the Shinnecock people and improve the quality of life. For more information, please visit our Web Site at Shinnecocknation.com or call our Communications team at 631-204-9301.

History of the Land Claim

In 1859 — when the Long Island Rail Road was seeking to run its line east to Montauk Point — a group of private investors submitted a petition to New York State asking to break the Shinnecock lease and instead give the tribe the reservation it now occupies. Twenty-one Shinnecocks allegedly signed the petition. But tribe leaders now question whether their signatures were legitimate: half the names on the petition were signed with Xs, other names were duplicated, and some names on the list belonged to minors, non-members and members who had died, the tribal trustees said in documents released Friday.

Within days of the first petition, tribe members sent a second one to Albany charging that the first had been a forgery. But the legislature approved the transaction.

A travesty repeated and perpetrated throughout our history of Genocide and land theft and Schumer stands in the way of rectifying a wrong and is protecting the interests of the rich landholders in the Hamptons.

Realistically, the Shinnecock’s battle to reclaim stolen land and become self sustaining will be a long and uphill battle, especially now since Sen. Schumer has weighed in. If you believe that he should step aside and let the process play out like I do, please tell him so.

Contact Sen Schumer