Native American Heritage Day — Atlantic Marine Conservation Society

Written by Julia Burns, AMSEAS Intern

In honor of Native American Heritage Day, AMSEAS would like to celebrate our relationship with the Shinnecock Nation, a relationship that is very special to us.

Southampton, NY is home to the Shinnecock Nation. Their name translates to “people of the stony shore,” a fitting name as the Shinnecock are comfortable and in tune with their surrounding marine environment. Shane Weeks of the Shinnecock Nation said, “Whales have always been a significant being for the indigenous people of Long Island. Not only did they serve as a source of food, but they also held many spiritual teachings and power. It was always customary for our people hold ceremonies when a whale washed ashore in honor of that importance. Due to the fact that whales were almost hunted to extinction, and the oppression of our peoples’ rights to practice our culture legally, we were unable to uphold that responsibility for a long time.”

Shane Weeks performing a blessing on a deceased humpback whale.

When AMSEAS began responding to whale strandings in New York in 2017, we placed great value in building partnerships with all communities across Long Island, as these communities are the first to observe the changes that happen in the marine environment. Building a relationship with the Shinnecock Nation was very important and became a valued part of our organization. AMSEAS Executive Director/ Chief Scientist Robert A. DiGiovanni, Jr., said “AMSEAS promotes marine conservation through action, and having all communities represented in stranding response for marine mammals and sea turtles is the first step. The Shinnecock Nation has been a valued partner since the beginning, and we appreciate the opportunity to celebrate their heritage.” When establishing the Long Island Sound Large Whale Response Plan with NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Region Marine Mammal Emergency Response Coordinator Mendy Garron, notifying the Shinnecock Nation of any whale strandings on New York shores was included as a first step in the protocol. When notified by AMSEAS of a whale stranding, a member of the Shinnecock Nation prepares to perform the same ceremony ancestors performed hundreds of years ago here on Long Island, something that had not happened in over 200 years.

Chanae Bullock performing a blessing on a deceased minke whale.

“Today we are able to freely be who we are and uphold our responsibility to acknowledge the whales through ceremony.” - Shane Weeks, Shinnecock Nation.

AMSEAS is more than just an environmental nonprofit. AMSEAS is unique in that we promote marine conservation through action, but also representation, inclusiveness, and giving a platform to honor Long Island’s roots of Native American heritage. The Shinnecock’s reverence and honoring of these beautiful creatures go hand in hand with our mission to contribute to the conservation of whales. Working together, the Shinnecock Nation has revived these beautiful ceremonies and AMSEAS can continue to document threats to whales in New York. The relationship that AMSEAS and the Shinnecock Nation has built is a successful one and has been used as an example for how conservation organizations working to investigate whale strandings in other parts of the country can work with native tribes to honor their culture.

Shane and Martha after performing a blessing on a deceased minke whale.

These ceremonies have come to be a part of AMSEAS whale stranding response plans, and we are grateful for the opportunity to facilitate the Shinnecock Nation’s ability to revive these truly incredible and significant ceremonies that are embedded in Long Island’s cultural roots.