Letters

The recent falsehoods and attacks by certain Hampton Bays community members in The Southampton Press Letters to the Editor section needs to be called out and corrected. I was called out by name by several community members. The Southampton Press is a public paper, and when a person decides to engage in libel and falsehoods then a response is warranted.

First, the Shinnecock Nation were the first inhabitants of the East End of Long Island. That is an undisputed fact.

Second, the Shinnecock Nation has witnessed, since the 17th century, our lands stolen, abused and desecrated. More recently, my generation of Shinnecock people have witnessed the transformation of Southampton from farmlands and open spaces to sprawling mansions (four to five times the size of the gas station plaza project), condominiums on the canal, major construction projects, and mini-mansions on roads such as Halsey Street and others that changed the entire dynamics of the Hamptons.

Third, tribes from all over New York have tax-free gas stations that support their tribal governments and social programs for their people. They are a great benefit to the local community due to the reduced gas prices.

Fourth, the nation did conduct environmental studies, as it was a requirement of the federal government, not to mention the Shinnecock people have maintained our lands for 10,000 years and would never jeopardize our lands.

Fifth, this project is 100 percent funded by the nation through loans — and we do not have outside financial backers.

Finally, I am absolutely appalled by the audacity of some of the residents on Quail Run Road in Hampton Bays who value their view from their stolen properties over the Shinnecock Nation’s sovereignty, economic well-being and acknowledgment of Indigenous land holdings.

I have witnessed so much injustice regarding my Shinnecock people, and we will not give up the fight for our sovereign authority of self-determination.

We are the forgotten people of the Hamptons, but that is changing, and we will not be silent or subservient regardless of the misrepresentations of the individuals who are not legal scholars, research experts or Shinnecock cultural experts.

The Shinnecock people have always been here, are still here, and will always be here.

I am asking all my Long Island friends, fellow Natives and family who support the Shinnecock people to write letters of support to the Southampton Town Board, New York State government officials and the Hampton Bays Civic Association.

The nation needs all the support it can get to battle the misguided and reprehensible attacks on the Shinnecock Nation’s sovereignty.

Peace, love and light.

Bryan Anthony Polite

Former Chairman

Shinnecock Nation