Shinnecock Indian Nation facts for kids

The handwritten caption says "The last of the Shinnecock Indians L.I., N.Y. 1884"

The Shinnecock Indian Nation is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the United States government. The Shinnecock people have historically spoken an Algonquian language. They live on the eastern end of Long Island, New York. Their main center is in Suffolk County. Since the mid-1800s, their land has been the Shinnecock Reservation. This reservation is located within the town of Southampton. The name "Shinnecock" means "people of the stony shore."

History of the Shinnecock People

Shinnecock and their neighbors

The Shinnecock were one of about thirteen Native American groups on Long Island. These groups were connected by family ties. They were named after where they lived. However, each village was mostly independent. They were related to the Pequot and Narragansett tribes. These were powerful Algonquian tribes from southern New England, across Long Island Sound.

The Shinnecock likely spoke a language similar to Mohegan-Pequot-Montauk. This was also spoken by their neighbors, the Montaukett. After reservations were created, the Shinnecock language was not allowed in schools. This made fewer people speak it. However, the tribe is now working hard to bring their language back. They want to make sure it is learned by future generations.

The Native American groups in western Long Island were Lenape (Delaware) people. They spoke a different dialect of the Algonquian language. The Lenape shared a longhouse social system. Their territory stretched from western Connecticut to Pennsylvania.

Wampum: A Special Currency

Like other Native peoples on Long Island, the Shinnecock made wampompeag, also known as wampum. These were shell beads strung together. Wampum was used as money, for keeping records, and for art. It also showed a family's importance. These shell beads have been found far away, even near the Rocky Mountains. This shows how valuable they were for trade.

Long Island Indians were known for making the best wampum. One of Long Island's old names, Paumanac, means "land of the purple shell." Other tribes, like the Pequot, sometimes raided the Shinnecock. They wanted to control this valuable trade item. Europeans quickly learned how important Shinnecock wampum was for trading with other tribes.

Challenges and Changes

The number of Native Americans on Long Island dropped a lot after Europeans arrived. This was mainly because of new diseases. The Native people had no immunity to these illnesses. For example, in 1658, a smallpox outbreak killed almost two-thirds of the island's Native people.

Also, European settlers took over more and more land. This changed the Native communities. They had to switch from hunting and fishing to farming. By 1741, it's thought that only about 400 Native Americans were left on Long Island.

In 1641, English settlers signed a lease with the Shinnecock. This was for land use. In 1703, this agreement was updated to include more land for the English. In 1792, New York State passed a law. This law set up the Shinnecock Indian Tribe as a trusteeship. It also started yearly elections for three tribal trustees. These elections have happened every year since 1792.

The Shinnecock, Montaukett, and Poosepatuck tribes created their own systems. These helped them deal with outside groups. The Shinnecock trustees managed relations with local farmers. They also handled dealings with other governments. For over 200 years, these trustees have managed the tribe's land and resources. In 2010, the Shinnecock gained official recognition from the U.S. government. Their reservation was then put into a special trust by the federal government.

After the American Revolutionary War, some Shinnecock left Long Island. They joined the Brothertown Indians in western New York. The Oneida people gave them land there. Later, in the mid-1800s, some Shinnecock and Brothertown people moved to Wisconsin. On Long Island, some Shinnecock married local settlers and African-American slaves. These families often raised their children as Shinnecock. This helped keep their identity and culture strong.

Shinnecock on the Water

The Shinnecock people were skilled on the water. They were fishermen and sailors around Long Island for a long time. In the 1800s, Shinnecock men worked on whaling ships. These ships sailed from places like Sag Harbor. People said that no ship left eastern Long Island without at least one Shinnecock man on board.

In 1876, ten Shinnecock men died trying to save a ship. It was stuck off East Hampton. The tribe is known in local stories for these brave actions. At the start of the 1900s, the Shinnecock were called "daring seamen." They also helped the United States Life-Saving Service (which later became the Coast Guard).

Modern Shinnecock Life

Since 1946, the Shinnecock Reservation has hosted a powwow every Labor Day Weekend. These ceremonies started in 1912. USA Today has called the Shinnecock Powwow one of the top ten powwows in the United States. In 2008, about 50,000 people visited the powwow.

In 1994, women in the tribe gained the right to vote on tribal issues. This was an important change for their leadership.

Land Claims and Future Plans

In 2005, the Shinnecock Nation filed a land claim against New York State. They wanted back 3,500 acres (about 14 square kilometers) of land. This land is near their reservation in Southampton. It includes the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, which the tribe says is an old burial ground.

The tribe's lawsuit said that New York State should not have approved a land sale in 1859. This sale broke a 1,000-year lease signed in 1703 between the tribe and Southampton officials. The lawsuit claims that a group of investors tricked the state. They sent a fake petition to the state government. This petition seemed to be from Shinnecock tribal members who wanted to sell the land. Even though other tribal members immediately said the petition was fake, the state approved the sale.

In 2007, the tribe thought about building a casino. This would help them earn money for things like education. They have been talking with the state and local governments. They believe a location outside the Hamptons area would be better for the environment. If they work with the state, they could build a larger casino.

Official Recognition

Avery Dennis Sr., also known as Chief Eagle Eye, worked hard for Shinnecock independence. The Shinnecock tribe was officially recognized by the United States government in October 2010. This happened after more than 30 years of effort. They even sued the United States Department of the Interior. George T. Skibine, a government official, announced their recognized status in June 2010.

In 2015, Sally Jewell became the first Secretary of the Interior to visit the Shinnecock Indian Reservation. She was joined by Kevin K. Washburn, another important official. One reason for their visit was to see projects using renewable energy.

Shinnecock Reservation

Cultural Center and Museum in Southampton

The Shinnecock Reservation is a self-governing area. Its current size of 800 acres (about 3.2 square kilometers) was set in 1859.

The reservation has a museum, a shellfish hatchery, and an education center. It also has a cultural and community center, a playground, and a Presbyterian church. The reservation is about three miles (5 km) west of the village of Southampton, New York. In 1903, about 150 people lived there. By 2012, the Shinnecock Nation had over 1,400 members. More than half of them lived on the reservation.

In 2024, Lisa Goree made history. She became the first woman to lead the Shinnecock Nation Council of Trustees.

Shinnecock Culture and Traditions

Whaling and Seafaring Skills

The commercial whaling industry in the United States may have started in the 1650s. This happened through agreements between English settlers and the Shinnecock Indians. The English settlers were mostly farmers and did not know much about the sea. The Shinnecock people were experts at sailing and hunting whales. These skills were very important for the whaling business.

Shinnecock men were excellent hunters. Their skills directly affected how many whales were caught each season. Because of this, whaling companies often hired Shinnecock men months or even years in advance. This arrangement was very successful. Whaling soon became popular all over New England. This type of whaling with Native American workers continued until at least 1746.

The whaling industry started to decline in the mid-1700s. Whales were no longer found close to shore as often. Whaling then became a worldwide activity. Shinnecock people were still highly valued in the industry well into the 1800s. On April 18, 1845, a Shinnecock man named Eleazar was on the whaling ship Manhattan. He became the first Native American to enter Japanese territory, anchoring in Tokyo Bay.

Wampum: A Cultural Treasure

The Shinnecock Indians are very closely connected to wampum. In the early 1600s, a Dutch official named Isaack de Rasieres wrote about Long Island Indians. He described Long Island as having "several creeks and bays, where many savages dwell, who support themselves by planting maize and making sewan (wampum) and who are called… Sinnecox (Shinnecock)."

The Long Island Indians are thought to have made the most wampum during the colonial era. Much of it was given as tribute to larger or more powerful tribes. As wampum making grew in the 1600s, it became official money for the colonies. It was also the main currency used in the fur trade until the early 1700s. Wampum was so important that the Shinnecock and other Long Island Indians were included in the 1664 free trade treaty of Fort Albany. This was to make sure that wampum from the Indians could be traded freely.

The Shinnecock and nearby Long Island tribes wanted to make sure they could always get shells for wampum. They did this through treaties. In 1648, the Shinnecock, Montaukett, Manhasset, and Corchaug tribes sold land. This land later became the Town of East Hampton, New York. The treaty stated that the tribes "reserve libertie to fish in all convenient places, for Shells to make wampum."

Powwow: A Celebration of Culture

Every Labor Day Weekend since 1946, the Shinnecock Reservation hosts a powwow. These celebrations are based on ceremonies that began in 1912. The Shinnecock Powwow is considered one of the top ten powwows in the United States by USA Today. In 2008, the powwow attracted 50,000 visitors.

Cultural Coalition and Education

In 1972, the Shinnecock Native American Cultural Coalition (SNACC) was formed. Its goal was to create a Native American arts and crafts program. People learn traditional dancing, beadwork, crafts, and music. A group called The Youngblood Singers was formed. They learn traditional Algonquian songs, chants, and drum rituals. They travel and perform at powwows and drum contests. The Cultural Enrichment Program helps the community share and learn. This makes sure that the ideas and traditions of their ancestors are passed down. It includes sharing knowledge about food, clothing, arts, crafts, dance, ceremonies, and language.

Shinnecock in Popular Culture

In 2019, a documentary film called "Conscience Point" was released. It was shown on PBS stations. The film shows the struggle for land rights and protecting Shinnecock burial grounds over five years. It features Shinnecock activist Becky Hill-Genia.

You can still see Shinnecock influence today. A bull rake is a large tool used to harvest clams. It was created in the mid-1800s. It is also known as a "Shinnecock rake."

Fiction

In the Netflix TV series Manifest, one of the characters is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

See also

In Spanish: Shinnecock para niños