About

On This Site: Indigenous Long Island

dennis_jeremy_360x480-225x300 About Jeremy Dennis On This Site
Jeremy Dennis, enrolled Shinnecock Indian Nation tribal member. Photo by Cristin Millet, Penn State.

On This Site is an art-based photography project by Shinnecock artist Jeremy Dennis. The purpose of this project is to preserve and create awareness of culturally significant Native American locations on Long Island, New York.

This project presents an opportunity to reflect upon archaeological and oral histories to answer these essential culturally defining questions.

My hope is to create curiosity for all audiences, as it creates a dialogue between indigenous and non-indigenous people on Long Island, and legitimizes the Long Island indigenous population beyond their borders on reservations.

“My hope is that this project will create awareness of these sites and inform viewers, using the perspective of a Native American cultural vision and voice. This is where we once were, and are still here.”
Pattersquash-Island_5I5A8616-WEB About Jeremy Dennis On This Site
Jeremy Dennis
Project Author

Preserving our Sacred Cultural Landscape

On This Site makes possible the preservation of local lands, water, and natural resources while also preserving the cultural landscapes associated with the land. Many of the sites are public, every day places that we pass without noticing. By highlighting their importance, connections are built among the diverse Long Island community.

 

By presenting archeological research using the format of digital landscape photography, the project presents to the public a new understanding of communal awareness and cultural enlightenment, which leads to cultural critique, historical inquiry, and educational development.

Project History

November 2020

On This Site receives the Dreamstarter GOLD grant, which includes $50,000 in projects to continue supporting the exhibits, travel, workshops, and more.

April 2016

On This Site receives the Dreamstarter Grant from Running Strong, which has provided ten $10,000 grants each year to community non-profits who will mentor a young Dreamstarter and work with them to implement a project inspired by the young person’s dream for her or his community. Working with Pennsylvania State University, Jeremy Dennis works to complete a Dreamstarter application outlining the project idea, its funding needs, and how it will benefit youth.

June 2017

The Water Mill Center hosts Dennis for an artist residency, providing financial backing, a studio, and time to produce a physical book of the project in it’s current stage of research.

On This Site has it’s first photo exhibition at the Shinnecock Indian Nation Cultural Center and Museum.

July 2017

Project presented in “On This Site: The Indigenous People of Suffolk County” at the Suffolk County Historical Society in Riverhead.

November 2017

Peconic Landing artist residency to research and document North Fork sacred sites. During this time, cultural art workshops are held at Peconic Landing and Dennis resides for the month continuing research.

Present & Future

Additional grants, support, and exhibition spaces are being pursued while research is always being added to the project archive and website.

 

This project has been made possible by:

lonnie2-e1456968679891 About Jeremy Dennis On This Site

Professor Lonnie Graham

Professor of Photography at Pennsylvania State University and a cultural activist whose work addresses the integral role of the artist in society. Professor Graham is the primary mentor and adviser for the project from beginning to end.

Southold-Indian-Museum-1990-David-Martine-John-Strong-1024x794 About Jeremy Dennis On This Site

Professor John Strong

Retired Professor of history at the Southampton College of Long Island University. He is the author of The Algonquin Peoples of Long Island from Earliest Times to 1700, and his articles have appeared in Ethnohistory, American Indian Culture and Research Journal, and the Encyclopedia of North American Indians.

John has worked closely with me to assist in research, advising and encouragement through his own work in this area.

billy-mills-and-jeremy-dennis About Jeremy Dennis On This Site

Running Strong for American Indian Youth’s Dreamstarter

Running Strong for American Indian Youth believes in the dreams of young American Indians: creating stronger communities, overcoming poverty, and building a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Fifty years ago, Billy Mills achieved his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, and since then, he has used that victory to help him give back to the American Indian community. To celebrate Billy’s dream and his leadership, Running Strong has created the Dreamstarter grant program to help the next generation of American Indian youth make their dreams come true.

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Director Graeme Sullivan

Director of the School of Visual Arts at Pennsylvania State University, Sullivan has assisted in the formation of the project. Pennsylvania State University is the hosting organization that allows this project to be done.

Contributors

I also thank, acknowledge, and dedicate this project to the following individuals and institutions for their inspiration, support, and contributions throughout the duration of this project, and to those not currently listed that support this project going forward.

Adrienne Terry

Allison McGovern

Andrea Cote

Andrea Godoy

Andrea Meyer

Angela Melon

Anne Bompart

Avery Dennis

Barbara Cutler

Beverly Jensen

Big Ten Network LiveBIG

Bob Stenonis

Bonnie Collura

Bridgehampton Historical Society

Cat Delgado

Chief Harry Wallace of the Unkechaug

Chief Osceola Townsend of the Matinecock

Cholena Smith

Chris Matthews

Cristin Millet

Daniel McCarthy

Dave Thompson

David Bunn-Martine

David Woodward

Deb Verhoff

Diane Caracciolo

Denise Silva-Dennis

Donna Marie Barron

Donnamarie Barnes

Dorothy Dennis

Dr. Gaynell Stone

Dr. George Milner

Dr. Marcie Venter

Dr. Solari

Dyani Brown

East Hampton Historical Society

Eastville Historical Society

Esta Tierra Magazine

Eugene Cuffee

Garvies Point Museum

Gina Piastuck

Graeme Sullivan

Guild Hall of Easthampton

Helen Sells

Herbert Randall

Hope Sandrow

Isabel Engel

Ives Goddard

James Krakker

Jay Levenson

Jim McMahon

Jim “Zak” Szakmary

Joel Klein

John Eleazer

John Jermain Library

Jonathan Hanna

Josephine Smith

Julie Greene

Kelly Dennis, Esq.

Leighton Delgado

Lisa Nordstrom

Lisa Tarrant

Lora Lomuscio

Lorraine Weiss

Lubin Hunter

Lucinda Hemmick

Maria Martinez

Mark Rothenburg

Mark S. Tweedie

Matauqus Tarrant

Mike Scheibel

Mohegan Archaeological Field School

Nadonis Tarrant

Nancy Herter

Nancy Lambert

Nancy Shoemaker

National Museum of American Indian

New York State Museum

New York State Archaeological Association

New York State Historic Preservation Office

Peconic Landing

Penn State University

Peter Honerkamp

Peter Pratt

Port Jefferson Historical Society

Rachel Menruk

Ralph Retaul

Rebecca Genia

Robert Giffen

Roddy Smith

Rogers Memorial Library

Saltonstall Foundation

Sandi Brewster Walker

Sara Gordon

Suffolk County Archaeological Association

Shane Weeks

Shavonne Smith

Shinnecock Museum

Shinnecock Youth Council

Shirley Smith

Smithsonian Cultural Resource Center

Southampton Historical Society

Southold Indian Museum

Stephanie Fielding

Stephanie Miller

The Stephen Talkhouse

Steven King

Steven Rubin

Stony Brook University

Suffolk County Historical Society

Sylvester Manor Educational Farm

Tecumseh Ceaser

Tela Troge, Esq.

Three Village Historical Society

Timothy Lloyd

Tina Tarrant

Victoria Berger

Viola Cause

Waban Tarrant

Wendy Annibell

Winonah Warren

Yaphank Historical Society