Protecting Sacred Ground

Long Island has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years. Its modern development has happened on top of their history and culture, including on sacred and burial sites. In 2023, New York State’s Unmarked Burial Law finally passed, protecting remains uncovered by property owners. The law was a long time coming, and the result of years of hard work by indigenous Long Islanders. Lawyer Tela Troge, a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe, was instrumental in this process. She talks with archaeologist Allison McGovern about her work with the New York State Burial Committee Board, Graves Protection Warrior Society and Niamuck Land Trust, to protect sacred and burial sites. She shares what she and others did to ensure the Unmarked Burial Law was successfully passed, and what you can do to honor Long Island’s sacred ground and history.

PANELIST: Tela Troge
MODERATOR: Allison McGovern

Tela Loretta Troge, Esq. is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and a member of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe. She is fighting climate change through the Indigenous women’s group Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, an intergenerational collective of water and land protectors. She recently organized the Warriors of the Sunrise Sovereignty Camp 2020 to raise awareness about the plight of the Shinnecock people. Tela graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor and certification in Indigenous Law and Policy from the Indigenous Law Program. She has been fighting for tribal sovereignty for the past 5 years as the attorney with the Law Offices of Tela L. Troge, PLLC.