Historical
Misinformation (Brief History cont.)
In Long Island textbooks the indigenous native population is
grouped into
"thirteen mystical tribes" on the basis of a history written
in the 17th century by a patrician and
elected state representative. What were place names given to dwelling
locations by Long Island Indians became tribes and started a misinformation
system that is still in place in Long Island classrooms. The Unkechaug
are not referenced and the reservations are not noted or are referenced
in the wrong locations. Unfortunately, this is an example of historical
misinformation that serves to dehumanize the Unkechaug and distort
tribal contributions to Long Island and New York. The Unkechaug are
firmly committed to developing a cultural center that will foster communication
of native art, history, and cultural traditions. The Unkechaug are
firmly committed to restoring and preserving the tribal language and
developing an appreciation among native and non-native of the tribal
arts and heritage. What the Unkechaug want to avoid is the misrepresentation
of our people so that we are not fallen into the same category of mascots
and characterized as less human than our neighbors and fellow human
beings. Some Long Island newspapers carried a very disturbing series
of articles on Halloween that coupled our Native American ancestors
on Long Island with Frankenstein, an ex-Nazi biological weapons scientific
researcher, a haunted house of death, and ancient cemeteries. Some
of the references were to Natives living as ghosts in the basement of
a house in Sag Harbor waiting to scare people, Natives coming out of
a graveyard on Mt. Misery Road to disturb people, and a Native maiden
called a princess who comes up out of Lake Ronkonkoma to eat people
because a white man would not marry her. Needless to say, the lack
of respect for our ancestors and the disregard for our burial or lifeafter
and spiritual beliefs is unexplainable unless one gives consideration
to ignorance or prejudice. In addition, the Unkechaug are committed
to identifying our cultural patrimony, sacred objects, and tribal
artifacts that are housed in museums and working with local offcials
and mainstream curators, educators, and historians to repatriate
our culture.
 Family
Support and Individual Development
The unmet needs Unkechaug families and individuals face in housing,
education, health, and socio-economic conditions calls for a comprehensive
solution that will support families and develop individuals in bridging
the gap of unmet need. The traditional methods of educating our youth,
the kinship system of family support, and the way of wellness need
to be incorporated into our efforts within the social and economic
system that our children and families share with the public schoolsand
the local communities.
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