Sugar Loaf Hill

 July 20, 2021
On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, the Peconic Land Trust closed on the Nappa property known as the peak of Sugar Loaf Hill in the Sugar Loaf Hill Critical Environmental Area. This event was preceded by the authorization from the Town Of Southampton to use the Community Preservation Fund to purchase an easement on the property for $5.3 million on June 8, 2021.This historic moment in our over 10,000 years of existence on Long Island, marks a great step in progress towards protecting and preserving our sacred burial grounds as Shinnecock people. Though there is much more work to be done, the tireless efforts of our community and our supporters has resulted in acquiring the critical funding needed for the preservation of approximately 4.5 acres that overlooks Shinnecock Bay.

Following today's closing on the property, the Peconic Land Trust will work closely with the Graves Protection Warrior Society to restore the land and remove the existing structures in what will be a year long restoration project. Upon completion of the restoration of the land to its natural state, the fee title of the parcel will be returned to Shinnecock. This will be the first time in history that Shinnecock land within the Shinnecock Hills will be returned to, and reclaimed by the Shinnecock Nation. 

Sugar Loaf Hill is among the most sacred areas to the Shinnecock people within the Shinnecock Hills. Our people have historically used the area and other parts of the Shinnecock Hills as a burial ground for many thousands of years up until the time of colonization when our people were forcefully removed in the mid 1800's. The fight to protect, preserve, and reclaim this land has been led by members of our community for generations.

In the wake of the uncovering of over 1,500 indigenous children's remains in primarily unmarked burials found at 7 of the nearly 500 Residential "Indian" Schools in North America, it is important for us to reiterate our cause. Many Shinnecock children attended these very schools. Though mainstream society has forgotten, erased, or failed to teach of the atrocities committed at those institutions, our indigenous communities have never forgotten. Despite the fact that many of the children's graves at those schools are unmarked, as are many of the graves in the Shinnecock Hills, our people have not forgotten they are there. We will continue our fight to protect and honor our buried ancestors, whether they were buried 200, or 2,000 years ago, so that they may continue to rest in peace.

We would like to thank the Southampton Town Board for following through with long standing negotiations and maintaining an open line of discussion around these efforts. We also thank the Peconic Land Trust for taking the forefront at the negotiating table on our behalf to acquire this area. We could not have achieved this without the time and love from all of our supporters who have come out and rallied side by side with our community to have our voices heard and our plea acknowledged.

Co-Chair Rebecca Genia

Co-Chair Shane Weeks