Our Work
Sacred Land
What is Peconic Land Trust's Work with Sacred Land?
The Peconic Land Trust has established a special fund, the Shinnecock Land Acquisition and Stewardship Fund, in conjunction with the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society (SGPWS) and the Niamuck Land Trust (NLT) for the acquisition, restoration and ongoing stewardship of Shinnecock sacred land in the Town of Southampton.
In July 2021, the Trust acquired the summit of Sugar Loaf Hill in Shinnecock Hills. Simultaneously, the Town of Southampton purchased the development rights on the property forever protecting it from residential development. In conjunction with SGPWS, the Trust removed the existing residence and is restoring the property to its natural state. The Trust’s intent is to transfer the land to NLT as soon as practicable with the approval of the Town.
How it Works
Our work with Niamuck Land Trust
Comprised permanently and only of enrolled members of the Shinnecock Nation, the Niamuck Land Trust (NLT) bases itself on strong cultural education of and for Shinnecock communities. NLT, founded in November of 2021, is committed to protecting, preserving, and purchasing burial sites and other culturally significant sites sacred to the Shinnecock Nation and their neighboring indigenous communities.
NLT was founded in order to raise funds and other resources to facilitate land acquisitions and continued stewardships of these sites as they are acquired for preservation, ceremonial, and educational purposes. The Peconic Land Trust is the fiscal sponsor for NLT while they seek to obtain their non-profit 501(c)3 status. To this end, we have committed ourselves to working in partnership to protect land sacred to the Shinnecock Nation. To learn more and support the NLT, visit their website here.
Additional Resources:
- On this Site, curated by Jeremy Dennis, for information on Indigenous communities on Long Island
- Native Land, a mobile app and online resource about Indigenous communities across the globe: native-land.ca/ or download from the app store on your mobile device.