{"id":19355,"date":"2019-11-15T09:54:54","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T17:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=blog&p=19355"},"modified":"2021-09-20T13:53:08","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T20:53:08","slug":"for-tribal-communities-battle-over-land-is-nothing-new","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/blog\/for-tribal-communities-battle-over-land-is-nothing-new\/","title":{"rendered":"For Tribal Communities, Battle Over Land Is Nothing New"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jordan Dresser<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Sometimes, two people can look out of the same window and see two very different things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This outlook sprang to my mind while watching Treva Wurmfeld\u2019s <\/span>Conscience Point<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>which tells the story of the<\/span>\u00a0Shinnecock Indian Nation’s fight to preserve and protect the land they call home in Long Island, New York. Relocated to an 800-acre reservation, their original migratory territory encompassed areas that now is famously known as the Hamptons.Colonizers will often make the remark when telling the history of tribal people that “no one owned the land.” <\/pullquote> A playground for the wealthy and elite, the Hamptons has built an identity of being a country refugee for those wanting a break from the hustle and bustle of New York City while also denying the role and history of the land’s original inhabitants. The Shinnecock Hills are considered a sacred site to the tribe since their ancestors are buried there.<\/span><\/p>\n

The demands of real estate and development disturbed the land and is now home to million-dollar estates and private golf courses. Some hate it, which includes tribal members, fishers and farmers who deal with the negative impact of pollution, high cost of living, and most disturbingly, the unearthing of human bones. Developers, city officials and those who benefit from the income–including the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club which hosts the U.S. Open while contributing no income revenue to the Shinnecock tribe that bears their name and logo–praise the boom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Becky

Becky Genia-Hill<\/p><\/div>\n

Shinnecock Tribal Citizen Rebecca Hill-Genia is a force of nature. For years, she has advocated for the return and protection of her ancestral homelands. In one scene she takes a walk and explains the significance of the land. The sky is blue. The leaves green. This is her home. This is her ancestors\u2019 home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across the way, we meet Developer Joe Farrell. While driving his vehicle, he points out the homes he created and sold which includes a 15 million dollar mansion bought by a 29-year-old. With pride, he beams, \u201cI like to turn things quickly. I call it the velocity of money.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The film speaks about the power of land, repatriations and who controls history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But most importantly, what does this mean for future generations?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

For tribal communities, the battle over land is nothing new.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Colonizers will often make the remark when telling the history of tribal people that “no one owned the land.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That isn\u2019t true and is used as an argument to justify the taking of tribal land. Tribes went to war with each other when they crossed into the lands and areas they called home. It wasn\u2019t just limited to the present day reservations where tribal people were relocated to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing Rock, Standing Ground<\/b><\/p>\n

Ancestral migratory homelands crossed hundreds of miles. Tribal people know this and this acknowledgment of the land is at the core of every disagreement with federal, state and local governments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2016, indigenous people and water protectors from all over the world came together to fight against the expansion of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The controversial pipeline would cut through the land that is considered sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n