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Land trust buys Shinnecock Nation burial ground in West Hampton
Victory for tribe, which has pushed to gain control of 4.6-acre property
The Peconic Land Trust has paid $5.6 million for a Westhampton home and property that had served as a Shinnecock Indian Nation burial ground for thousands of years, according to Newsday.
The deal is a victory for the Shinnecock Nation, which sought to gain control of the property for decades and more recently gained the support of some celebrities, including Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters.
The 4.6-acre Sugar Loaf Hill property at 536 Montauk Highway had been on the market for $6 million. There is currently a 7,000-square-foot, six-bedroom home on the property that will be demolished.
Rebecca Geniao of the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society, said “we’re going to restore our beautiful Sugar Loaf Hill to its natural state.”
The tribe and the Peconic Land Trust will collaborate on demolishing the home and other work on the property.
The tribe is also working with Southampton on a hiking trail through part of the property for general use. The town bought a conservation easement on the property with $5.3 million in community preservation funds, which are sourced from property taxes.
[Newsday] — Dennis Lynch