THE SHINNECOCK INDIAN NATION GETS FEDERAL RECOGNITION
The Shinnecock Indian Nation of Southampton, Long Island, received final recognition from the Federal government as an official Indian tribe. The tribe, then comprised of 1,292 members, was officially recognized by New York State at least as early as 1789. In 1792, the State passed a law that recast the tribe’s leadership structure into a trusteeship whose trustees have been voted on by tribe members ever since. The question before the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was whether the modern tribe was linked to the “historic” one. The BIA finally determined that it was, saying the tribe met the seven criteria in the law governing how the Federal government recognizes Indian groups. For 30 years, the tribe had sought official recognition, a prerequisite for a casino. In 2007, a Federal judge ruled against its bid. But the tribe and Federal government reached a settlement in 2009 that the tribe would be recognized by mid-June 2010 if there were no objections. There were none.
Source: “NY’s Shinnecock Indians Gain Official Status,” The Two-Way, National Public Radio, 6/15/2021. Retrieved 11/20/2021, NY's Shinnecock Indians Gain Official Status : The Two-Way : NPR Photo: w.enAmericasroof, 10/2/2007. Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum in Southampton, New York. Permissive Use.
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