POLITICS: Shinnecock Indians lay Claim to Valuable NY Land, page 1
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Topic started on 16-6-2005 @ 07:29 AM by shots
The Shinnecock Indian tribe has filed a lawsuit seeking to reclaim 3,600 acres of prime Southampton real estate - along with billions of dollars in reparations. In what is sure to be one of the biggest Indian land disputes in U.S. history - at least in dollar terms - the Shinnecock Indian Nation is claiming that it was swindled out of the land 150 years ago.




www.cnn.com
The Shinnecock Indian tribe said on Wednesday it was seeking billions of dollars for 150 years of back rent on land it inhabited for 12,000 years in New York state in one of the largest suits of its kind.

The area is part of the Hamptons, known as a summer playground for New York's rich and privileged classes who flock there to escape the heat of the city.

The tribe filed the lawsuit against New York State in the U.S. district court in Central Islip.

The suit, which also names the governor, a local railroad and the town of Southampton, lays claim to 3,600 acres of land encompassing the upscale Shinnecock Hills Golf Course and Long Island University's Southampton College.



Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


It should be noted that this action, will be followed by a second lawsuit next month, demanding even more land - possibly the entire 57,000-resident town of Southhampton, and its parks, businesses and sprawling summer mansions, according to officials of the tribe.

For years, the Shinnecocks have sought to build a casino on tribe-owned land in Hampton Bays, but the project has been opposed by neighbors and local lawmakers and is tied up in litigation. There has been speculation the lawsuit stems from the casino battle. But the Shinnecocks argue that their claim to the land long precedes any controversy over the gaming palace.


reply posted on 16-6-2005 @ 09:59 AM by Nygdan
This is an interesting case. THe Shinnecock tribe made a deal with the early settlers for land use originally, and then the settlers, I think this was pre-civil war, met with some people from the tribe, apparently plied them with liquor, and made a new deal in which the land belonged to the americans. This was also apparently done after a federal law was made in which Congress has to approve native land deals, but that was not done in this case.

The Natives did have a bid for a casino on their land, and the town shot it down. Apparently NY State has been settling Native land claims by offering casinos and tax free liquor and tobacco (my my, how things change..). But the Natives are stating that the two things are unconnected, or at least that they aren't using this as a way of bargaining for a casino.

To a degree, their gripe makes sense, the land was 'sold' by people without authority, and now, a hundred years later, when they simply want to have a casino or something to revive their community, they get shot down by people in the Hamptons who don't want the traffic. So they, apparently, figure, 'screw this, give us our god damned land back'.

One of the places under 'threat' is the Southampton Golf Course. Ludicrously, the newspapers had comments from one guy who scoffed at the viability and intentions of the Native claim while walking his poodle. Just rather funny if you ask me, bunch of Hamptonites walking their poodles, sipping starbucks, and strolling around golf courses guffawing at native land claims.

The state government, however, does tend to take these things seriously. It woudl surely be a bizzare situation if the golf club and surrounding areas returned to native control.


reply posted on 16-6-2005 @ 02:38 PM by cryptorsa1001
Looks like the same tactic used over and over by the governmnet to take indians lands by a so called legal method. Get one chief to sign a document for a few beads or booze and then call the signed document binding between the government and the entire tribe.


Traditionally, decisions concerning the welfare of the tribe were made by consensus of adult male members. Seeking to shortcut the consensus process in order to more easily facilitate the acquisition of Indian lands, the Town of Southampton devised a three member trustee system for the Shinnecock people. This system of tribal government was approved by the New York State legislature in February of 1792. Since April 3, 1792, Shinnecock Indians have gone to the Southampton Town Hall the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April to elect three tribal members to serve a one- year term as Trustees.

The Trustee system, however, did not then and does not now circumvent the consensus process, which still remains the governing process of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Major decisions concerning the tribe are voted yea or nay by all eligible adult members, including women, who gained the right to vote in the mid-1990s. Also in that period, the Shinnecock Nation installed a Tribal Council, a 13 member body elected for two years terms. The Council is an advisory body to the Board of Trustees.
Article

At this point in time the federal Government does not recognize them as a sovereign nation.


We seek to obtain recognition from the federal government so that our Nation can qualify for federal programs that will improve the quality of life of our members. Federally recognized tribes are eligible to receive housing assistance, emergency loans, minority business development funds, work incentive grants, disability assistance and much-needed funds for higher education for our young people. And recognized tribes have an opportunity to achieve economic self-reliance because there is a government-to-government relationship. But our Nation does not have that opportunity. In the eyes of the U.S. government, our status is unclear, despite being recognized by the State of New York for nearly 400 years.
Article


reply posted on 16-6-2005 @ 02:56 PM by shots
Originally posted by cryptorsa1001

But our Nation does not have that opportunity. In the eyes of the U.S. government, our status is unclear, despite being recognized by the State of New York for nearly 400 years.
Article

See there you have it propaganda by the Sheenecock nation. How on earth could it have been recognized by the state of York in 1605?

New York did not become a state until July 26, 1788. DUH. Me thinks they better get some new writer's

[edit on 6/16/2005 by shots]

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