[calpurnia]

story here

Quote:

...Now the residents of Southampton find themselves at the centre of a multibillion dollar law suit filed by some of America's poorest citizens as the Shinnecock Native Americans fired an opening salvo in their battle to reclaim 3,600 acres of ancestral lands around the exclusive Long Island town.

I'm really interested by this. Any thoughts?

 

[sadie_sabot]

nocommetns yet...just subscribing.

 

[Skim]

:

In general I support all land claims by any tribe in the US. I'm interested in their history of trying to submit any land claims, also. Since they couldn't get the land, I think it's reasonable they could be awarded compensation - including back rent (loved that...).

Will continue to lurk here...

 

[sadie_sabot]

From the article:

Quote:

"We'll have to review the lawsuit, but we will take whatever steps may be necessary to protect the interests of property owners and taxpayers on Long Island," said a spokesman for the New York State governor, George Pataki.

Now that is a very telling quote.

 

[violafemme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadie_sabot From the article: Now that is a very telling quote.

Here, here

 

[DomesticOverlord]

That's freaking awesome. I'm sure they won't get what they want but they'll get something. As my husband says, "You won't win anything if you don't go for the jackpot!"

 

[GruppieGirl]

Another similar instance; The Narraganset Native American tribe has been trying to claim most of Rhode Island back as there own.

No real thoughts here. It is truly sad, but what can be done now? Millions of us live on what was originally the tribe's land. It would be completely impossible to relocate all of the reisidents of Rhode Island and clear the land of all houses, buildings, cities, etc.

I am interested to hear what more informed MDCers have to say.

 

[Skim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by averysmom Another similar instance; The Narraganset Native American tribe has been trying to claim most of Rhode Island back as there own. No real thoughts here. It is truly sad, but what can be done now?

How about: reparations, reparations, reparations...

OR perhaps they should be our landlords? Or maybe the government should pay back rent and compensate for lost income? Why destroy the current "development"?

Or better yet, we should just ask the tribes what they want and need and go from there.

Although, as I heard Sherman Alexie say when he spoke in Madison, "I hear France is really nice." :LOL

 

[chersolly]

If my ancestors owned property at the Hamptons, I'd want to get it back too.

 

[Tata]

from averysmom...

"It is truly sad, but what can be done now? Millions of us live on what was originally the tribe's land. It would be completely impossible to relocate all of the reisidents of Rhose Island and clear the land of all houses, buildings, cities, etc."

Actually, it's been done. It was called the Trail of Tears. It is amazing what this government can do when it sets its mind to it.

Breaking every treaty and duping as many original folks as possible out of their traditional lands. It is sad. But, actually, a lot can be done. I agree with Skim on this one. Reperations for starters and simply ask and or listen to what the people want. Then, honor their wishes.

I am curious, averysmom, why we would need to "clear the land of all houses, buildings, cities, etc." Do Native people not live in houses and use buildings and cities? Or, do they just still live in the woods and ride horses? It is an odd image of a scenario. Just curious.

 

[sadie_sabot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skim How about: reparations, reparations, reparations...

yeah, that's what i was thinking.

 

[kama'aina mama]

Wow Tata... your comment kinda knocked me on my butt. Thank you.

For what's it's worth, a lot Hawai'ians would like to have their land and their Sovreign Nation, which was illegally over-thrown by the USA (and the US gov't admits that!) back.

I agree, this stuff sounds way too big and crazy to do until you think about what was done to get us here. The Brits gave back India. And Hong Kong. We gave the Canal to Panama. It's not impossible. Except for the part about convincing the "haves" to give back what they have that belongs to the "have-nots."

 

[grisandole]

Awesome. I hope they get something. How about residents paying rent to the tribe? The government helping to relocate the residents.........It can be done.

ETA- just read the article and changed my mind; the damn rich people can move themselves, lol! Really, the tribe wants reasonable compenstaion for THEIR land; I hope they get it.

 

[grisandole]

"2005 Land rights around Fort Apache in Arizona are awarded to the White Mountain Apache tribe by the supreme court, together with $7m in compensation"

This is where I live

This was a huge victory here. FTR, though we live on the rez, we are not native (my dh teaches high school here).

 

[TiredX2]

No *real* comments, but was :LOL at this combo:

Quote:

The residents of Southampton traditionally view themselves as being a cut above the glitzier Hollywood set, including Steven Spielberg, who decamps to nearby East Hampton for the summer. Instead Southampton is a haven for the WASP bankers and hedge fund managers from New York's Upper East Side, all of whom guard their privacy jealously. .... Howard Stern, the radio shock-jock, recently paid $20m for four acres of oceanfront land off Wickapogue road.

Yeah, Howard Stern says "non-glitzy, WASP banker" to me

 

[applejuice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiredX2 No *real* comments, but was :LOL at this combo: Yeah, Howard Stern says "non-glitzy, WASP banker" to me

I totally agree, TiredX2, but maybe he just wants his privacy, which is something that surpasses the "non-glitzy, WASP banker" label.

 

[TiredX2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by applejuice I totally agree, TiredX2, but maybe he just wants his privacy, which is something that surpasses the "non-glitzy, WASP banker" label.

Oh, I totally agree and understand. I just thought it was funny that the example they gave right after saying WASP, non-glitzy, etc.. was Howard Stern (I think they gave that example because he recently bought for $20 million).

 

[kavamamakava]

kama: the thing about Hawaii is that much of the land the Hawaiians want back is not OWNED by anyone but them. It is rented by the government for military purposes at the whopping rate of $1/year. Of course, getting the military off and dividing up the land for those who used to own it (or descendants of those people) is an entirely different matter.

 

[applejuice]

RE: Howard Stern.

I guess everyone needs R&R at some point, even him.

He is a few days older than me...he celebrated his 40th birthday on my 40th birthday, and I cringed at the thought

! of sharing a birthday, or anything for that matter, with him.

 

[member]

Quote:

Originally Posted by averysmom No real thoughts here. It is truly sad, but what can be done now? Millions of us live on what was originally the tribe's land. It would be completely impossible to relocate all of the reisidents of Rhose Island and clear the land of all houses, buildings, cities, etc.

As a PP stated, it's very possible. For a moving account of the Tsalagi Trail of Tears (just one of many relocations check out the novel, Pushing the Bear).

Also, returning the land to the Shinnecock Nation would not necessarily entail relocation. I am sure many residents would be "allowed" to stay; there would be tribal government set up, and most likely be ran as any reservation in the States would be, as a trust.

I strongly and fully support the return of ancestral lands to Indigenous Nations. It's an important step in the sovereignty movements.