THE GREAT AWAKENING& THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY: SPEAKER SERIES

TALK #5: Early Algonquin Religious Beliefs & Culture

SATURDAY, May 24, 2025 - 1:00 PM (in-person)

Presented at 1929 Montauk Hwy, Montauk, NY

516-982-3318 / ThirdHouseNatureCenter@gmail.com

The late John A. Strong stated in his book, The Unkechaug Indians of Eastern Long Island that “The Algonquian belief system was, in most aspects, similar to other religions around the globe. In all societies, religious belief systems answer basic human needs in the following ways.

They calm anxieties about death, the afterlife, and the risks of accidental injury, they serve to reinforce a social bond, to establish rules of conduct, to present models of proper behavior, and to celebrate such rites of passage as birth, marriage, and death; they offer an explanation about human origins, about the nature of the universe, and about the destructive and beneficial forces of nature; and they offer hope of a cure to those sick in body and in spirit. Many of these belief systems are seldom observed by the non-Natives.

Chief Wallace’s presentation will discuss this way of life observed by the Long Island Native American peoples today.

SPEAKER: HARRY B. WALLACE

At the tribal election on April 5th, 1994, Harry B. Wallace Esq. was elected as Chief of the Unkechaug Nation, of the Poospatuck Territory. After taking office, Chief Wallace began his journey of leading the Nation through many civic action projects including cemetery cleanups, road repairs, powwow ground cleaning, economic development, and assisting the enrolled-tribal citizens with their home repairs. Over the years, he has encouraged historical tribal and inter-tribal gatherings, and cultural events throughout the Island. Chief Wallace is known throughout the region for the revitalization of the Algonquian language. 

Long Island Native Americans did not lose their language; it was stolen like Thomas Jefferson’s papers. Many of the local Native American peoples were forcibly pushed from their lands and marginalized, as well as punished for speaking the Algonquin language; therefore, Chief Wallace wanted to right this wrong.

Within the Native American Language Revitalization Movement, he is known for co-founding the Algonquian Language Revitalization Project in the Linguistics Department at Stony Brook University.  Wallace began language immersion, restoration, and teaching the Algonquin language in 2016 at the university, and throughout the region. This is an attempt to halt or reverse the decline of the Algonquian language. Wallace has stated, “One of the things I have learned is that the language is not lost. We just disconnected ourselves from it.”

He is a member of the New York State Bar. He graduated Cum Laude from New York Law School (NYLS) in 1982. Wallace was invited as a candidate for law review, and his law school thesis was Eastern Indian Land Claims was published by the NYLS Law Review. The Chief also holds a degree from Dartmouth College. Chief is a second degree member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Medicine Society and Chie/carrier of the Little Boy Water Drum bundle with full rights.