There has been long-term hostility between the two factions of the Schaghticokes of Kent, the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation and the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe. The current drama which is unfolding on the reservation in Kent, however, seems to be one born of desperation. The options for these tribes have greatly diminished.
What can be the goal of Michael Rost, executive coordinator of the Indian Tribe, in building and promoting a stone pyramid on the reservation in Kent? According to his Web site, the Great American Freedom Pyramid represents the members of the Indian Tribe “striving toward redefining, refreshing, and re-energizing the idea of freedom. Our intension [sic] is to give back to all Worldians those civil, ceremonial, and religious rights that we have lost.†The Web site is at algonquinfieldstone.com/freedom.
It’s been a long and difficult struggle for the Schaghticokes of both factions. Their attempts to gain federal recognition have been unsuccessful, after many twists and turns. What remains on the reservation does not represent much in the way of worldly possessions. There is little there that is of value in our society. But to both factions of the Schaghticokes, the land represents their history, and remains a sacred place because of their memories of their ancestors who related in some way to that land.
Rost appears to believe his actions will result in both honoring the tribe’s history and ancestors and in accomplishing a long-awaited financial windfall for the Indian Tribe. He states on his Web site, “The Great American Freedom Pyramid will generate over 1 billion dollars in tourism revenue for the State of New York and surrounding areas. The retail space around the pyramid which includes a holistic healing spa retreat, recreation facility, and hotel will produce over 1 billion dollars in revenue to support the investors and educational endeavors for the well-being of humanity.â€
But the chief of the Bridgeport-based Tribal Nation, Richard Velky, sees Rost’s actions as “desecration†of the land and as a “hate crime.†It’s a complicated situation for all involved, and Velky has been petitioning for the state government and various agencies to act as advocates for the Tribal Nation in the current disagreement.
Rost’s project and the current conflict between the Indian Tribe and the Tribal Nation seems like more of the same sort of dysfunctional relations that have damaged their standing and their possibilities for growth going forward.
Rost has found his own way of trying to overcome the stagnation in which the Schaghticokes as a group find themselves. While few believe he’ll be able to find financial support for his pyramid, he certainly believes in the project. He has stated that the seeds for this project go back to decisions made by the Indian Tribe in the 1980s.
From the outside looking in, it seems that both factions should realize their options have decreased, and that it would be to the benefit of all if they found a way to cooperate, or at least co-exist. Their histories are intertwined, even if their futures will not be. But since the state has made it clear it does not want to be involved in any mediation, now is not the time to turn to the state for an answer to their continuing hostilities. It would be for the good of all if the Tribal Nation and Indian Tribe could come to some resolution, some mutual agreement, in the ways they will interrelate going forward. Instead, it seems as if the factions will continue on a path of constant friction and mutual disrespect.
