Professor Matthews Interviewed for WNBC

Chris Matthews, professor and Anthropology chairperson, was recently interviewed by WNBC New York in reference to the fight for state and federal recognition by the Montaukett Native American community on Long Island, NY.

The Montaukett Indian Nation, an indigenous people of Long Island, is awaiting the final decision from the governor’s office as to whether the tribe can officially regain its New York State recognition, which had been stripped away during a legal battle in 1910. The 1910 decision declared the tribe to be extinct despite the active Montaukett members standing in the courtroom and continued use of their ancestral land. Their lands were eyed for further development into eastern Long Island and expansion of the Long Island Railroad.

While the Montaukett community awaits a response from the state, they are simultaneously working to gain federal recognition, which the tribe had attempted previously. The process for each level of recognition is separate, arduous, and often costly.

“The process can take years because you have to assemble this information in addition to living your life. You’re not given resources to do this research. You’re not given external support to help you do this. You have to either raise grant money to hire someone to help you or you have to try and do it yourself,” notes Matthews.

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