Posted on 06/16/2005 10:25:07 AM PDT by RuthannaK
NEW YORK The Southampton, N.Y.-based Shinnecock Indians (search) on Tuesday fired the first arrow in their battle to reclaim ancestral lands filing a federal lawsuit seeking the return of 3,600 acres of prime real estate "stolen" by the state a century and a half ago.
The 1,300-member tribe also is asking for monetary damages conservatively estimated at $1.7 billion and 150 years of back rent and interest in what it called "the largest Indian land claim ever filed."
The suit is seen by many locals as an attempt to force favorable action on the Shinnecocks' bid for federal recognition and its plan to open a casino in the booming resort area.
Members of the tribe beat animal-skin drums, shook rattles, chanted an "honor song" and whooped yesterday as their leader, Randy King (search), entered federal court to file the suit.
"This day has been decades in the making. We only seek what is ours," said King, chairman of the tribe's board of trustees.
The tribe wants title to all non-residential property within a 3,600-acre area of Southampton Town land it claims it was cheated out of in 1859.
The land targeted in the suit includes the world-renowned Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (search), Southampton College's sprawling campus and the elite bayfront National Golf Links of America (search).
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I am a strong believer in private property and doubt the validity of claims by the Indians, but somehow I cannot be sorry for the liberals who find their property tied up in a legal knot until this is settled.
%99 of these casino deals are scams..Everyone from the italian and Russian mobs to black scam artist are involved and rarely , if ever, any real indians.
Wrong. Arizona is a beautiful state full of rich history, gorgeous deserts, Suprestition Mountain, Native American ruins, Beautiful sunsets, awesome scenery and the greatest weather in the winter months. Have you even been there?
A simple google search would have shown you that the tribal name is not pronounced as you posted, but is "shinni-auk-it, meaning "at the level land".
From the Encyclopedia of North American Indians
Shinnecock
Shinnecock (originally called shinni-auk-it, meaning "at the level land"), in eastern Long Island, New York, is the year-round home to approximately 450 Native Americans. Over a thousand additional tribal members are scattered through the country. Of the approximately 400 to 450 people living year-round on the reservation, 50 percent have married within or had children by tribal members; 25 percent are married to outside Indians; and 25 percent are married to whites, Hispanics, African Americans, and others.
In 1640, English colonists entered Shinnecock land. There they met peaceful, resourceful people who had been in the same geographical area for thousands of years. The Shinnecocks' land extended eastward to the Easthampton town line and westward to the Brookhaven town line, with the Atlantic Ocean to the south and Peconic Bay to the north.
In a gesture of friendliness, the Shinnecocks parceled out eight square miles of land to the settlers. Numerous unfair land transactions had by the 1850s reduced the tribe's holdings to its present eight hundred acres. A legislative act in 1859 designated this small neck of land as the Shinnecock Indian Reservation. It is located two miles west of the village of Southampton, New York, in Suffolk County.
In 1857, Ferdinand Lee, a tribal member, rose from fourth mate to captain on various whaling ships. As captain of the bark Callao out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, many of his crew members were Shinnecock natives who followed the call of life at sea.
In 1792, at a town meeting, the first tribal governing system was introduced. Three male members of the tribe were selected to conduct tribal affairs. Only men were allowed to vote or have a voice in tribal meetings; it was not until 1993 that women acquired these privileges. The Shinnecocks have the oldest ongoing Native America church in America. Most tribal members are Presbyterians. Close-knit family ties have kept them united.
Ancient June Meeting spiritual gatherings continue on the first Sunday in June, an indication of the tribe's determination to remain traditional. The Shinnecocks celebrate "Indian Thanksgiving" a week before the nationwide observance as a demonstration of their cultural awareness and tenacity.
The annual three-day Shinnecock Labor Day Powwow, with over fifteen thousand daily attendees, generates a fair amount of capital for the tribe, whose income is supplemented by state grants. Young people maintain their heritage by making their own dance regalia and by practicing beadwork and other crafts.
A tribal council with a few ad hoc committees enlivens the progressive political and business status of the community. Several programs have enriched the social structure. The Shinnecocks have recently renewed their traditional skills of herb gathering, hunting, and fishing.
Today many professionals and entrepreneurs operate both within and outside the confines of the reservation. Launcelot Gumbs, known as "Fierce Eyes," is the proprietor of the Shinnecock Outpost, a highway deli, gifts, and smoke shop; he employs eighteen members of the tribe in this enterprise.
The Shinnecocks are proud people, determined to hold on to their identity and the last of their tribal land bases. A tribal enrollment list is being prepared for an application by the tribe for federal recognition.
http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/naind/html/na_035800_shinnecock.htm
Close the reservations. Just about any ethnic group can make a claim based on ancient history that they've been abused or swindled out of something. The reservations should be closed and the land sold over to development. Of, course the indians should be compensated, but not given special rights to sit on huge tracts of land and special privileges. Live on the suburban reservation like the rest of us.
Keep me posted. This should be a good show.
Yes....But why does matter if "Have you even been there?"
If I typed "No", does that bolster your argument?
"Why only non-residential??
They should go for the whole enchilada!"
Someone answered your question, but I being "wordy" would love to add to it. Our state was sued by a tribe of N.E. Oklahoma Indians that had used this area for hunting. When they sued they sued fifteen landowners including the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana to the tune of 260 MILLION acres. By suing individuals and for the U of I it made their suit REAL unpopular right from the start. For some reason they didnt understand that it would do that. (?) It looks like the tribes have learned. All in all I don't think their suit will work as moneyed people can be pretty powerful, strong natured and iconoclastic and this will be right in their own backyard... Liberal or not they are property holders and they don't want to get to say "well, there goes the neighbourhood"...!
"Just about any ethnic group can make a claim based on ancient history that they've been abused or swindled out of something."
But only the Indians have the US Constitution standing beside their claims. The US made treaties with them. The US cannot reneg on the treaties. No other ethnicity has treaties. That is the difference.
Any excuse for more low limit hold em tables is fine by me.
Because even if you did not like AZ you would agree all the things I mentioned definitely DO make it something. You said there was nothing there anyway. We lived there...there ARE plenty of things there. By the way, I didn't know I had an argument to be bolstered.
Why not, the Mexicans want the Southwest annexed into Mexico.
When will the French want the Lousiana Purchase back?
I don't feel sorry for Teddy. My relatives owned a private island off the coast given to them by the feds in lieu or payment for financing the Revolutioary war.
When my great uncle Ted passed, the feds came in and took the land. Teddy K. said he would do everything to help the family regain ownership.
They never regained access to that land. Teddy K err, is useless for help. He is a crock.
Well, good thing Syracuse changed their name from the Orangmen.
I read in some obscure part that some viking like settlers remains were found on the east coast, predating the arrival of American Indians. Does that make it Viking territory??, and not Indian??
lol, just because they want slot machines in the lobbies.
Let's sit back and watch their bleeding heart liberals handle this one.
Anyone got some popcorn??
If the Indians keep building casinos at the present rate, as they are here in Oklahoma, you'll soon have your own private casino. How it'll be able to have decent payoffs is something that is evidently not being considered.
So true, however, when reporters asked the New York Native Americans why they chose "Walking Eagle" for Senator Clinton the answer was startling.
"when a bird is full of crap it can only walk..."
;)
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