Shinnecock Leadership See Hope in Hochul Invite to State Address, but Denounce 'Weaponized' Government in Southampton

The Shinnecock Nation Council of Trustees attended Governor Kathy Hochul's annual State of the State address in Albany on Tuesday, January 14.

Governor Kathy Hochul has invited Shinnecock Chairwoman Lisa Goree and Vice-Chairman Lance Gumbs and other tribal leaders to state functions on three separate occasions, which the tribe said is a hopeful sign of the state seeking to improve long strained relations with Indigenous nations.

Bryan Polite, who was the chairman of the Shinnecock Nation until last spring, said that the town has created a "generational schism" with the tribe by filling a lawsuit challenging the Shinnecock's right to construct a gas station on tribal land in Hampton Bays. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Randy King, a former tribal chairman, said that the town has "weaponized" the court system against the Shinnecock. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Supervisor Maria Moore said that the town's lawsuit intends only to ensure that there is responsible oversight of the construction of the gas station at Westwoods, and is not a sign of disrespect of the Shinnecock Nation or its ancestral history. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara and Councilman Michael Iasilli. MICHAEL WRIGHT

Construction crews began erecting the steel framing of the building at the Shinnecock Nation's gas station and travel plaza in Hampton Bays.

Construction crews began erecting the steel framing of the building at the Shinnecock Nation's gas station and travel plaza in Hampton Bays.