Native American tribe reclaims slice of the Hamptons after court victory

guardian.co.uk ^ | July 11, 2010 | Paul Harris

[Free ThinkerNY]

From a distance the teardrop-shaped peninsula looks just like any other bit of the famed Hamptons shoreline. Thick woods crowd down to the water's edge, and through the trees houses and roads can be glimpsed.

But this land is not part of the Hamptons, neither is it really part of the United States any more. This patch – in the middle of the playground to Manhattan's social elite – is proudly and fiercely Native American country.

Almost four centuries since their first contact with the white man and after a 32-year court battle that has just ended in victory, the tiny Shinnecock tribe has now been formally recognised by America's federal government.

The decision means that the Shinnecock, numbering some 1,300 members, many of whom live in deep poverty compared with their wealthy neighbours, can apply for federal funding to build schools, health centres and set up their own police force. It means their tiny 750-acre reservation is now a semi-sovereign nation within the US, just like much bigger and more famous reservations in the west.

In order to qualify the Shinnecock literally had to prove that they existed, submitting thousands of pages of tribal records. It was a process that has left a bitter legacy. "Why do we need federal recognition to show we are who we are?" said Shinnecock leader Lance Gumbs as he sat in his office in the community centre. "It's a humiliating, degrading and insensitive process. Why do Indian people have to go through that? No other peoples are treated like that."

[Rebelbase]

The town just lost its say over 750 acres.

[Cheetahcat]

Enough of this crap, let them compete just like the rest of us.

[LongElegantLegs]

...the Shinnecock, numbering some 1,300 members...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[GladesGuru]

“”Why do we need federal recognition to show we are who we are?” said Shinnecock leader Lance Gumbs as he sat in his office in the community centre. “It’s a humiliating, degrading and insensitive process. Why do Indian people have to go through that? No other peoples are treated like that.””

Perhaps because no other peoples are claiming racist special rights?

[aquila48]

“750 acres is plenty of room to build a resort hotel, casino, tax exempt tobacco outlet, shopping mall and upscale housing for all the tribe to be financed by the income of said enterprises.”

Not quite... According to the article it means they can feed off the federal teat. See below...

“The decision means that the Shinnecock, numbering some 1,300 members, many of whom live in deep poverty compared with their wealthy neighbours, can apply for federal funding to build schools, health centres and set up their own police force.”

[4buttons]

Funny thing about Indians is no one gives a hoot about them until they get their hands on something of value.

I’m all for them free-enterprising the daylight out of their reservations, tax-free as specified by treaty.

[CaptainK]

Every building has to be ok’d by the town.

[OCC]

Almost four centuries since their first contact with the white man and after a 32-year court battle that has just ended in victory, the tiny Shinnecock tribe has now been formally recognised by America's federal government.

Tiny Shinnecock? That sounds offensive in some way. How long before a Shinnecock massage service opens?

[4buttons]

“The Shinnecock “Indians” are now of about 60% Black ancestry, about 15% White, about 10% Indian and about 10% Hispanic”

I think you’’ll find that ratio among the tribes along the eastern seaboard.

[annelizly]

or maybe a place to set up a really nice hospital that DOESN’T participate in the obamacare.

[Rebelbase]

The town just lost 750 acres to a sovereign nation. The political boundary has been redrawn.

[fish hawk]

I sometimes can't believe the spewing on here by people that know absolutely nothing about the subject they are spewing about. I've lived here in Hawaii for over forty years and there are lots of pure blood Hawaiians around here. True a lot are mixed blood but believe me the bloodline will not go extinct in the next few years. Have you ever been to Hawaii or did some one tell you this jewel of information?

[fish hawk]

How refreshing your post is to me. I am an American Indian and am astounded at the prejudices and hate that I read every time there is a thread about Native Americans. Have you Republicans ever wondered why most tribes are about 95% democratic voters? It's because of the Republican responses like on this thread. Sure, the Democrats never deliver on a promise but they don't generally bash them like the Repubs do. So they have Casinos. My tribe doesn't. So some of them have become millionaires, my tribe didn't. Now, just who is it that are spending their money at the Indian Casinos. Duhhhhh White people. I laugh and tell people Casinos and tobacco are our revenge. Don't like Casinos don't go there.

[VermiciousKnid]

You said it, buttons.

I recently had an argument with a local card/candy store that sells cigarettes. The guy was RANTING about the Indian reservation here on L.I., blaming the Indians for him losing his tobacco revenue.

I told him he was crazy. The Indians didn’t jack up the price of cigarettes to ten bucks a pack, the idiots in Albany did, and that if he has any rage inside him, it should be directed at the Albany Mafia. Then I suggested that most of his former customers would MUCH rather walk around the corner to buy their cigarettes from him than drive 35 miles one way in Long Island traffic to get them, but because of the simply outrageous taxes, they’d take the drive instead. The store owners should have complained about the state-sponsored price jacking long, LONG before now, because THAT’S what’s causing their revenue to drop, not the Indians.

Years ago, the tribes did an OK business at their tobacco shops, but honestly nothing to write home about. It was only after the state started screwing around with the prices that their tobacco business really took off, and what’s the FIRST thing the state does? Goes after them for it. The treaty that had stood for 150 years was perfectly OK with the theives in the statehouse until they discovered a little thing called “diminishing returns,” and until they discovered that someone other than Albany was getting the cash, and they went NUTS.

Besides...the Southampton area’s crawling with libs. I hope they get invaded by a veritable army of blue-haired grandmas blowing their Social Security checks at the slot machines.

Regards,

[the OlLine Rebel]

Typical.

The “Mashantucket” Pequot of Foxwoods came forth based mostly on people with 1 great-great-grandparent as an Indian.

Any TV interviews of complainers from the “tribe” were either white or black. I’d never have guessed any of them were Indians.

[fish hawk]

Good for them. Originally Reservations were set up to get the dirty Indian out of the way and out of sight. They said though that the Reservations were to help the tribes become autonomous and self reliant. Well, isn't that what is happening. Oh but there is big money involved, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT!!!

[SorosOwnsObama]

This is funny — the people who inhabit this area are upper class Democrat elitists. I sincerely hope the Indians set up a casino right in the middle of their little paradise.

[Frantzie]

I always said in FL that if the casinos wanted all the money then just cutoff the access roads to the casinos or build toll roads.

I hope the casino, teepees and alligator wrestling attraction goes near Martha StewRat’s estate.

[Free ThinkerNY]

LOL!!!!

[SorosOwnsObama]

Agreed. But even liberals mock American Indians. I did not know my ancestory until my twenties (adopted). I had people ask if I was Indian due to my eye shape and high cheekbones since I was a kid but I dismissed that idea since I have light skin and hair.
Thing is, when I found out I had a lot of Indian ancestory that is when liberals at work made all kinds of comments like to the effect of “Good thing you don’t drink fire water” and “Now we can get you a leather thong for Christmas.” Liberals on discussion boards will talk about “Native Americans and peace with the land” but in reality they still have an image of naked people gathering berries in the woods. They have no idea that Cherokee villages were more advanced than the typical village in England, or that Meso-Americans had technology that rivaled that of Europe as well.