Shinnecocks, others celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day in Southampton

Members of the Shinnecock Nation and other indigenous communities celebrated their culture Monday with Southampton residents, aiming to spread awareness about the importance of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Bianca Collins, council secretary of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, said this is the first year this event has been held at Agawam Park in Southampton, as it previously took place at Raindrops Café on reservation territory for the last three years.

Hosting the event with the public is a great way to both showcase their culture and to cultivate relationships with the community, she said.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for people who may not have relationships with Indigenous people or Indigenous communities, to come and learn about those communities," said Collins.

The morning began with a welcome from Collins, followed by a prayer led by Curtis Terry, pastor of the Shinnecock Nation. Collins then acknowledged that the land they stood on was once inhabited by Shinnecocks and expressed solidarity with anyone past, present or future who suffers from colonialism.

Long before Christopher Columbus arrive on the shores of the Americas, 13 original tribes inhabited Long Island: Canarsie, Rockaways, Merricks, Massapequas, Matinecocks, Nissequogues, Setaukets, Corchaugs, Secatogues, Unkechaugs, Shinnecock, Montaukett, and Manhansets.

The Shinnecock nation is the 565th out of 574 federally recognized tribal nations in the United States. Collins said "there should be far more."

Collins said she knows of people who have lived in Southampton for decades yet had never met a member of the Shinnecock nation. The town was settled in 1640.

"We are still here 400, some of us 600, years after feeling the effects of Colonial settlerism," said Collins. "People don't really take into account how much this country started here in the northeast and on the east coast of the United States, and how much history is here, specifically in Southampton and in New York."

Jeffrey Pegram, a traditional and contemporary indigenous musician who identifies as Cherokee, said that people who travel to the East End, as well as longtime Long Island residents, are still surprised to learn that there is a reservation on Long Island.

The musician, who sang several songs Monday while playing a hand drum, said Monday's event was to "make sure that people understand the fact that we’re here."

As Pegram played, Shinnecock nation member Alan Shepard executed an eastern war dance. Then, Pegram played a unity dance, instructing all to participate by joining hands.

Members of Shinnecock nation linked hands, including children, formed a circle and danced. As one round was completed, the clouds parted and the sun shone down on the dancers.

Vendors sold handmade jewelry and art, while one tent serving traditional indigenous food such as venison chili, cornbread, born pudding, and rice and beans.

Curtis Terry and his wife, Migdalia Terry, who identifies as Taino, sold jewelry to benefit the nonprofit Shinnecock Revival Center, which offers a food pantry and health services, among other resources.

Pat Rogienski, of Smithtown, said she and a friend drove to Southampton on Monday to understand more about the Shinnecock nation.

"It's nice to see this and learn," said Rogienski, of Smithtown. "That’s a problem, when we don't learn other people's cultures, so we're always afraid."

Collins encouraged all who attended to have conversations with Shinnecock nation members present.

"For us, it is not an easy task to continue to have to reaffirm your own existence or the existence of your people," she said to participants. "So please assist us in this work. Stand by us."