Shinnecock
The Shinnecock are a historically Algonquian-speaking Indigenous people from Long Island, known for their deep cultural roots that trace back to one of North America's oldest civilizations, with archaeological evidence indicating their presence as far back as 8000 BCE. Traditionally, they were not viewed as a distinct tribe but rather as part of a larger nation of Algonquian people, which was misinterpreted by colonists as separate tribes. The Shinnecock are particularly recognized for their craftsmanship in creating wampum, decorative beads made from shell materials, which were originally used in sacred rituals and later adopted by Europeans as currency. In 2010, after a lengthy struggle for recognition, the Shinnecock Indian Nation became the 565th federally recognized tribe in the United States, marking a significant achievement in their quest for self-governance. However, they continue to face contemporary challenges, including the impacts of climate change, which threaten their land and way of life on their 1.5 square mile peninsula that is home to about 600 tribe members. The Shinnecock's history and ongoing resilience highlight the complexities and dynamics of Indigenous identity in the modern era.
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Shinnecock
- CATEGORY: Tribe
- CULTURE AREA: Northeast
- LANGUAGE GROUP: Eastern Algonquian
- PRIMARY LOCATION: Long Island
- POPULATION SIZE: 1,589 (Shinnecock Indian Nation, 2024)
The Shinnecock are a historically Algonquian-speaking people of Long Island who trace their descent from one of the oldest Indigenous cultures of North America. Archaeological evidence, namely a handful of Clovis projectile points, has dated the Algonquian people's presence on Long Island to as early as 8000 BCE.
Although popular lore identifies the Shinnecock as one of the "thirteen tribes" of Long Island who joined together in a confederacy (variously identified as Montauk, Matouwac, or Metoac) to protect themselves against mainland tribes, this has since been discredited as a colonial misinterpretation of the Indigenous people's social structure. It is more likely that prior to European contact, eastern Long Island was occupied by a single nation of Algonquian people who resided in a number of small communities, and colonists later mistook the place names associated with these communities for individual tribal names. Thus, the Shinnecock did not consider themselves a distinct tribe of people until that identity was imposed on them by outside forces.
The Shinnecock, like the other bands of Long Island, were known for making wampumpeag, or wampum, tubular beads made from quahog clam and whelk shells that were traditionally used for sacred or ceremonial purposes. Europeans later adopted wampum as a unit of currency in their dealings with Indigenous peoples.
Of the original inhabitants of Long Island, the Shinnecock are the only ones to be federally recognized as a self-governing nation. After a thirty-two-year campaign, the Shinnecock Indian Nation finally won recognition from the US government in 2010 as the 565th federally recognized tribe. However, only ten years later, the Shinnecock Indian Nation faced new challenges as climate change eroded the Nation's 1.5 square mile peninsula. In 2021, this area was home to 600 tribe members. The Shinnecock have also faced challenges from local and state governments over the Indigenous group's economic development projects, although these challenges did not halt the expansion of the Shinnecock's travel plaza businesses on Long Island. In April 2024, Lisa Goree was elected as chair of the Shinnecock Indian Nation Council of Trustees, the first woman to hold the position in over 200 years.
Bibliography
Hakim, Danny. "US Recognizes an Indian Tribe on Long Island, Clearing the Way for a Casino." The New York Times, 15 June 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/nyregion/16shinnecock.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kilgannon, Corey. “First Female Leader in Centuries Returns a Tribal Nation to Its Roots.” The New York Times, 10 June 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/nyregion/shinnecock-indian-nation-chief-lisa-goree.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Pritchard, Evan T. Native New Yorkers: The Legacy of the Algonquin People of New York. 1st rev. ed., Council Oak, 2007.
Sampson, Christine. “Southampton Sues Shinnecock Nation to Stop Construction on a New Travel Plaza.” News 12 - Brooklyn, 23 Dec. 2024, brooklyn.news12.com/southampton-sues-shinnecock-nation-to-stop-construction-on-a-new-travel-plaza. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Strong, John. "The Thirteen Tribes of Long Island: The History of a Myth." Hudson Valley Regional Review, vol. 9, no. 2, 1992, pp. 39–73, brothertowncitizen.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/strong-j.-1992-the-thirteen-tribes-of-long-island-the-history-of-a-myth-1.pdf. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Weeks, Shane. "Who We Are." Shinnecock Indian Nation, www.shinnecock-nsn.gov/who-we-are. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.