What is the name of your organization?
Ma's House & BIPOC Art Studio, Inc.
What is the name of your solution?
On This Site
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
"On This Site – Native Long Island" preserves and shares the history of Indigenous sites, ensuring their stories are recognized and remembered.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Southampton, NY, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
—
What specific problem are you solving?
I am working to address the erasure and misrepresentation of Indigenous history on Long Island. For centuries, Indigenous sites have been overlooked, destroyed, or misinterpreted, leaving Native communities disconnected from their ancestral lands and the broader public unaware of our deep-rooted presence. This lack of recognition contributes to ongoing systemic injustices, including land dispossession, cultural erasure, and misinformation about Indigenous history.
On Long Island, home to the Shinnecock, Unkechaug, and other Indigenous nations, many historical sites have been lost to development or remain unmarked, with their significance unacknowledged. Nationally, Indigenous lands have been reduced from 100% of the U.S. landmass to just 2.3%, and historical narratives continue to marginalize Native voices. According to the National Congress of American Indians, 87% of state history standards fail to mention Native people’s history after 1900, reinforcing the idea that we no longer exist.
Through "On This Site – Native Long Island," I aim to restore visibility to these sacred and historical locations by providing an interactive digital map, educational resources, and public programming. By reclaiming our narratives, I seek to strengthen cultural identity, educate the public, and advocate for Indigenous land recognition and preservation.
What is your solution?
Since 2016, I have been working on On This Site – Native Long Island, a digital mapping project that identifies and shares the history of Indigenous sites across Long Island. The website serves as an educational tool, allowing users to explore historical locations, learn about their significance, and engage with Indigenous history beyond textbooks. However, I have struggled with the technology side and need support to expand and improve the platform.
Currently built on WordPress, the website lacks the functionality needed for tribal members and academics to contribute their knowledge directly. I want to collaborate with MIT to develop a more interactive, community-driven platform where Indigenous voices can shape and expand the project. Additionally, I aim to create a mobile app that brings these sites to life in an engaging, location-based format—similar to Pokémon GO. The app would provide real-time historical insights, encourage site visits, and support grassroots preservation efforts by raising awareness of threatened locations.
With the right technological support, On This Site – Native Long Island can become a powerful tool for education, advocacy, and Indigenous cultural preservation, ensuring these stories and places are recognized, protected, and remembered.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
My solution primarily serves Indigenous communities on Long Island, including the Shinnecock, Unkechaug, and other Native peoples whose histories have been erased or misrepresented. These communities continue to face land loss, cultural suppression, and exclusion from mainstream historical narratives. On This Site – Native Long Island empowers them by reclaiming our stories, ensuring that our sacred and historical sites are recognized, respected, and preserved.
Beyond Indigenous communities, this project also serves educators, students, historians, and the general public who lack access to accurate information about Native history. With 87% of U.S. state history standards failing to mention Indigenous peoples after 1900, many people remain unaware of our continued presence and contributions. By expanding the platform’s functionality and developing an app, I aim to make this history more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
This solution will strengthen cultural identity, promote historical awareness, and support grassroots preservation efforts. For Indigenous youth, seeing their heritage acknowledged in an interactive, tech-driven format can foster pride and connection. For the public, it provides an opportunity to learn, visit sites, and become allies in protecting Indigenous history and land.