- Details
- By Chez Oxendine
- Real Estate
The Shinnecock Nation has finalized the purchase of an eight-acre parcel in Hampton Bays, N.Y. from private owners Diane and Harold Holzman.
The transaction, which concluded a six-year pursuit in late May, marks the first time in over 400 years that the nation has privately regained full custodianship of land within its ancestral territory, according to a tribal statement. Details on how the tribe funded the purchase were not made available.
The nation called the acquisition a "milestone" in ongoing efforts to restore its land base and advance economic development initiatives, according to the press release. The land was part of Shinnecock territory until it was lost in the late 1890s. Tribal officials view the purchase as a foundational move that could support future projects designed to enhance revenue streams and territorial stewardship.
“Our reclamation of this land is just the beginning—it’s a victory for our culture, our people, and our future,” Shinnecock leadership said in a statement. “It is an expression of unity, deep spiritual dedication, and a reaffirmation of our sacred duty to care for this land, as our ancestors did before us.”
In 2019, the town of Southampton expressed interest in buying the property through its Community Preservation Fund, according to a report by National Public Radio affiliate WSHU. The tribe protested that sale on the grounds that the land was part of Shinnecock ancestral territory, prompting the owners to take the property off the market.
When the owners relisted the property in early 2025, the tribe was prepared to bid, tribal attorney Tela Troge told WSHU. The Shinnecock bid prevailed, marking a rare victory for the tribe, which has faced legal challenges from the town in developing a nearby gas station and operating billboard advertising.
The successful land purchase reinforces the tribe’s goal of reclaiming lands that were once integral to its heritage. The parcel is adjacent to the nation’s 80-acre Westwoods territory, which has been designated for economic development, per prior Tribal Business News reporting.
While plans for specific projects on the new parcel have not been finalized, tribal leadership indicated that funds generated from future ventures could support community programs, maintain traditional practices, and help restore historic lands.
“It's a really historic moment, and it really marked just the first of many planned acquisitions as we continue to develop our economic development and expand our resources,” Troge told WSHU.
The transaction is expected to serve as a precedent in ongoing disputes over regional land ownership and economic development on Long Island. Future purchases are being considered as part of the nation’s broader strategy for self-determination and economic self-sufficiency, the tribe wrote.
"This has been a long journey," Shinnecock Nation Chairwoman Lisa Goree told publication Newsday. "This is...just the beginning for us."
