printer friendly version
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation right to file claim
Thursday, June 23, 2005
"In 1703, the Town of Southampton leased 3,600 acres to the Shinnecocks for 1,000 years. But, in keeping with the perfidy of governments in dealing with indigenous people, that didn't even last 200 years. In 1859, to make way for the Long Island Rail Road, the State Legislature passed a bill giving control back to Southampton. The bill relied on a petition allegedly signed by 21 Shinnecocks, but the tribe quickly produced a second petition, calling the first a fraud. Nonetheless, the legislature went ahead.
Now the Shinnecocks are suing to get their land back, with financial help from a company with casino interests. The choice of funding is unfortunate, because it taints the claim with grubby commerce. But a Supreme Court decision in March in an Oneida land-claim case suggested to the Shinnecocks the danger of further delay. So the tribe is right to pursue its claim, even if its hope for a casino is among its motives. We wish the Shinnecocks well, but history shows that money, not land, is the likeliest remedy. We hope they invest it in a profitable venture, but not a casino."
Get the Story:
Editorial: Shinnecock casino: bad idea
(Newsday 6/23)
Relevant Links:
Shinnecock Nation -
http://www.shinnecocknation.com
Related Stories:
Column: Shinnecock Nation only seeks a future
(6/20)
Column: Shinnecock Nation took too long to sue
(6/20)
Tribe's lawsuit
claims pricey Hamptons properties (6/17)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation needs answer from BIA
(6/17)
Shinnecock Nation takes land
claim papers to court (6/16)
Shinnecock
Nation runs ads in support of land claim (6/15)
Shinnecock Nation cites fraud in theft of land
(6/14)
Shinnecock Nation to file
billion-dollar land claim (6/13)
Shinnecock Nation lays claim to bones of 60-foot
whale (04/06)
Ties between Shinnecock
Nation, golf club tested (06/11)
BIA
doesn't want judge to rule on Shinnecock Nation (04/27)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation deserves an
answer (04/02)
House panel
sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
Hearing used to air complaints about tribal
recognition (04/01)
Federal
recognition process subject of two hearings (03/31)
Judge to have 'final word' on Shinnecock
recognition (01/28)
Shinnecock
Nation case tests legal waters (1/26)
Shinnecock leaders compare opposition to
genocide (1/22)
BIA wants
Shinnecocks to wait a decade for status (12/18)
N.Y. opinion affirmed Shinnecock Nation
sovereignty (09/19)
Decision
awaited in Shinnecock casino case (08/06)
Copyright © 2000-2005 Indianz.Com
