Today the Shinnecock Indian Nation and the Council of Trustees received notification from Bryan Newland, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, reaffirming the Nation’s land holdings known as Westwoods after several years of researching relevant information provided by not only the Nation, but Southampton Town public records.
“The Department examined the land title status of the Westwoods parcel and determined that it is within the Nation’s aboriginal territory, that the Nation has resided within its aboriginal territory since time immemorial and has never removed therefrom, and that Westwoods is within the purview of the Nonintercourse Act and is therefore restricted against alienation absent consent of the United States. This land is and has always been restricted fee land held by the Nation and is now recorded to reflect such status.”
As a result, the Westwoods parcel’s metes and bounds has been recorded into the BIA’s Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS) as restricted fee.
This confirms the position of the restricted fee land status the Nation has always acknowledged and publicly stated. Moving forward, the Shinnecock Nation welcomes the opportunity to work with New York State and Southampton Town on a Government to Government relationship and that this determination dispels any misconceptions. The Nation will consider any concerns that have been raised regarding the jurisdiction over our Westwoods aboriginal territory and other ancestral tribal lands.
Tabutne,
Shinnecock Nation Council of Trustees