The Significance of the Billboards

The Shinnecock Nation erected two billboards on Sunrise Highway, which they refer to as monuments, aimed at generating revenue for the tribe. These structures, completed in 2019 and 2021, have evoked controversy primarily due to their size and the implications of tribal sovereignty. New York State challenged the billboards legally, claiming they violate local ordinances and may distract drivers, yet the tribe maintains that they are on their ancestral land and therefore exempt from such regulations. The revenue from these billboards is crucial for the Shinnecock community, which faces economic hardships, with approximately 60% of its members living below the federal poverty line.