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Hakamé.
Greetings from Shinnecock.
Nearly three dozen tribal representatives from the United States and Canada traveled to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, August 25, for a special closing bell ceremony for NativeOne Institutional Trading, the first American Indian-owned firm to join the NYSE. We Shinnecocks were honored to take part in hosting this proud moment in Native history and grateful for the opportunity to honor those who came before us and lived and hunted on the aboriginal territory on which Wall Street was built.
This was a historically significant moment, for what once was literally a wall to keep Native people out has finally been penetrated by Native people on a level commensurate with Wall Street’s reputation as a leader in the world’s economy. Before the ceremony, the event was celebrated with a mini street powwow outside the Stock Exchange, that was hosted by Redhawk Native American Arts Council.
NativeOne was founded in 2009 by the firm’s chief executive, Don Lyons of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and partner Dennis Smith, a 35-year Wall Street expert, and debuted on Wall Street last December. Its goal is to be a familiar source for Native Nations in both Canada and the United States to manage and grow their wealth on a par with the rest of industry. In addition, the firm also facilitates a number of scholarships, internships, job training and other charitable opportunities as a means to give back to Indian Country. Already, NativeOne has given us Natives a sense of hope that we may all be recognized for our contributions to the contemporary world in which we live, instead of the “Old West” stereotypical box that should be extinct but that the world likes to keep us in. It was also good medicine to celebrate such a giant leap among the many different tribal representatives from two countries, a rare moment in itself.
Like others, we were forced to evacuate our homes to make way for Hurricane Irene this past weekend, although many of us chose to stay behind at our own risk. Thanks to Shinnecock’s Emergency Management Division and Tribal Security, the Shinnecock Nation Seniors Program and Shinnecock Warriors Society, the Internet Technology Department, and other volunteers who assisted the Nation’s residents with the evacuation. Also, thank you to Southampton Town for opening up Hampton Bays High School as a safe haven.
We are grateful that Irene was not as horrific as she was hyped up to be—some predicted it would measure up to the infamous Hurricane of 1938—but instead, she just provided some good pruning for Mother Nature. Many tree limbs and leaves were strewn about, and it was especially disheartening to see the beautiful row of birch trees by the East Gate entrance down, barricading the road. In addition, some swampland flooded, as expected, but sorely, half of our cemetery was underwater. So a big thank you also goes out to the Nation’s Maintenance Crew, whose members still have quite a bit of work ahead of them.
They will be especially busy this week preparing for our 65th annual Shinnecock Indian Nation Labor Day Weekend Powwow—which will double as our official celebration for becoming the 565th Federally Recognized tribe. This year’s powwow will include for the first time female and male head dancers, Dyáshwa Áki Sylvester and James Keith Phillips, respectively, as well as special traditional dance presentations by Shinnecock Youth Dancers. Plus, we hear that the Youngblood singers are gearing up for a reunion of generations.
Also, if you missed it at the Escape to New York music festival, Kaska Dene/Cree fashion designer Sho Sho Esquiro will show her off latest fall/winter collection “2000 to Infinity” as worn by a roster of Shinnecock models at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, and Sunday, September 4. Following Esquiro designs, Shinnecock’s own up-and-coming fashion designers Jason King and Naike Collins will premier their new line of fashions, Evitan Couture. We expect this year’s powwow to include many more surprises.
A last-minute mention: Chenae Bullock is raising money so that she may accept the honor of representing Shinnecock and all northeastern Algonquin nations in the United Tribes Technical College 16th Annual Miss Indian Nations Pageant in Bismarck, North Dakota. The pageant, to be held from September 7 through September 10, will be judged on a demonstration of traditional skills, talent, and participation. The entry fee for the pageant is $500, plus $1,500 for travel, room and board. Any and all donations would be appreciated. Please contact aponiwind@gmail.com for more information.
on Aug 30, 2011