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Indigenous Advisory Council

The Shinnecock Bay Hope Spot Indigenous Advisory Council is a newly formed committee that creates a mechanism for Tribal citizen contributions to collaborative scientific research and communication efforts in Shinnecock Bay 

The Shinnecock Indian Nation is a federally recognized tribe that has inhabited the lands and waters around Shinnecock Bay for over 13,000 years. The name “Shinnecock” roughly translates to “people of the stony shore” and the bay itself is an integral part of the Nation’s culture. 

 

The bay’s designation as a Hope Spot signifies much more than scientific research and restoration; Hope Spots recognize a water body’s cultural, recreational, and traditional importance. Shinnecock Bay is integral to the local indigenous community and holds great cultural, ecological, and spiritual value.  

 

During and after the Hope Spot nomination process, Dr. Kelsey Leonard, Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo and citizen of the Shinnecock Nation, and IOCS Executive Director Dr. Ellen Pikitch, began discussing potential opportunities for new collaborative research in Shinnecock Bay and additional ways for the Hope Spot to honor indigenous values and perspectives.   

 

Kelsey and Ellen are now co-leading a project that uses Environmental DNA (eDNA) and other emerging technologies to monitor and safeguard the bay's species and habitats. The project is also committed to fostering a meaningful partnership that respects and integrates the invaluable insights and leadership of the Shinnecock community through a newly established Indigenous Advisory Council. 

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The Role of the Indigenous Advisory Council

The primary role of the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC) will be to co-design a research agenda so that this and future projects have adequate input and representation from Shinnecock citizens. 

 

The IAC is made up of around a dozen Shinnecock Nation citizens who expressed interest in serving on this committee. The IAC will meet on four occasions to identify and prioritize key issues that are important to the Shinnecock Nation community for current and future research projects. An important outcome for the IAC will be governing documents for the IAC itself, and three priority issues. The IAC may also seek to brainstorm new ideas and discuss fundraising opportunities, and suggest ways to outreach with the broader Indigenous and Shinnecock community on the project’s progress and success. 

 

The first meeting of the IAC was held in November 2024. 

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Members

  • Sierra Brown

  • Chenae Bullock 

  • Rainbow Chavis

  • Gerrod Smith

  • Marguerite Smith

  • Shavonne Smith

  • Darlene Troge

  • Rachel Valdez-Castillo

  • Shane Weeks

  • Stefanie Wright 

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