THE FIRST LONG ISLANDERS

First Long Islanders Early Settlers Beach Resort Home

Excerpted from NEWSDAY :

Which is preferred, Indian or Native American? After interviewing scores of descendants, scholars, leaders and others for this series, Newsday chose to continue using Indian because it is widely accepted and used among descendants in the United States. Literal objections have been raised against both terms. Indian originated with the mistaken belief that the ships of Columbus had reached Asia. Native American has been criticized as reflecting neither the character of the early population nor the wishes of most of their descendants today.

On Long Island, opinion is divided. David Bunn Martine, a Shinnecock artist, says he is comfortable with the term Indian but calls himself, and his neighbors on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton, Shinnecocks. Robert Cooper, a descendant of the Montaukett chief Wyandanch, says he is comfortable with the term Native American, but, like Martine, uses Montaukett when talking about his own people.

INDIANS

The Indians considered the waters of Lake Ronkonkoma sacred. Four of the thirteen tribes on Long Island shared its shoreline. These tribes were the Setaukets, the Nissequogues, the Secatogs and the Unkechaugs.

Evidence of when the first Indians visited the lake is sketchy, but the activity of the Indians in the Ronkonkoma area is perhaps best evidenced by the vast collection of arrowheads and other stone weapons that have been gathered within the radius of a few miles of the lake. Many of the present legends about the lake derive from these local Indian tribes, The Secatogs, Unkechaugs, Setaukets, and Nissequogues, who utilized the shores of the lake. It is thought that the name Ronkonkoma, which in the Algonquin language means boundary fishing place, was chosen as a logical name by the Indians for this body of water.

Four Indian Tribes of Lake Ronkonkoma

INDIAN PRAYER TO THE SACRED LAKE

Oh, sacred lake with shape of skull
And known as Sachems Pond
I will not eat your fish that swim
And break forbidden bond.
They are not really fish for food
Superior beings all
Oh, sacred lake protect me from
The evil demon call.

Indian Prayer to the Sacred Lake

Long Island Indians did not have one god according to early historians. They had numerous manitos that governed the various aspects of their daily life. The Indians had a most superstitious reverence for Lake Ronkonkoma. They even refused to catch the fish thronging its clear waters, believing them under the special protection of the Great Spirit, while on its beaches were held the most solemn of their ceremonies. Offerings were made to beings in lakes, rivers, and springs. These objects of nature were deities: sun, moon, fire, trees, lakes and various animals.