Celebrating Shinnecock Culture at 80th Annual Powwow

More than 75 students, faculty and administrators from Stony Brook University's main campus and Stony Brook Southampton attended the 80th Annual Shinnecock Indian Nation Powwow over Labor Day weekend.

Students experienced firsthand a celebration of Shinnecock culture, traditions and community, bringing together education, curiosity and cultural engagement.

"This was an unforgettable experience. I enjoyed the food and dancing, and the opportunity to see the Shinnecock culture," said Southampton marine science major Gustavo Sanchez.

Student attendance was made possible by the joint effort of the Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Southampton Student Life Offices, as part of the "Beyond the Brook" excursions.

Other groups from across Stony Brook also took part in the Powwow in Southampton.

Students enrolled in "Introduction to Native American Studies" - taught by Courtney Leonard, assistant professor in Stony Brook's MFA in Art program and a multimedia artist and filmmaker from the Shinnecock Nation - attended as part of the course.

Students living on campus also participated through their residence hall Living Learning Communities, which emphasize experiential learning and opportunities to connect learning beyond the classroom.

"The weekend represented a wonderful connection between education, curiosity, cultural expression, and community partnership," said Richard Czyzyk, director of Student Life for Stony Brook Southampton. "The experience also strengthened connections with members of the Shinnecock Nation, including community liaisons Marguerite A. Smith, Esq. and Tiana Gaines, who helped coordinate the visits."

Also in attendance was Stony Brook Southampton Assistant Director for Student Life Anthony Salierno and Residence Hall Directors Kris Solieri and Aleecea Denton.

With such strong interest this year, organizers are already exploring opportunities to build upon the partnership and bring even more students to the Powwow next year.

The Shinnecock Indian Nation is a federally recognized Native American tribe located on the eastern end of Long Island, New York, with ancestral roots in the area dating back thousands of years. The name Shinnecock roughly translates from their eastern Algonquian dialect to mean "people of the stony shore."