There has been much debate regarding the Shinnecock Nation and the gas station, monuments, etc. What the average person doesn’t realize is that members of the Shinnecock Nation who live on Shinnecock Territory do not individually own the land they build their homes on. In fact, this is true for all reservations across the country.
Therefore, they cannot get a conventional mortgage to build or buy a home on the reservation. There are some federal government programs that will help fund housing, but they are difficult to obtain and take years for approval.
Most homes on the Shinnecock Territory are built in stages and over generations. And they will never recoup the equity in their home if they wish to downsize.
Some tribes have built casinos, others have found other economic drivers for their community. But it is about economics. Maybe sometimes people disagree with the approach, and sometimes the approach can be improved. But they are defending their heritage and their family. Trying to provide an opportunity for their community to access assets to improve the quality of life is the ultimate goal.
Mark Epley
Southampton
Epley is a former mayor of Southampton Village — Ed.
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