Southampton - A traditional aqua farming technique used for many generations by the Shinnecock people has become widespread throughout the world including in Long Island communities' aqua cultural practices. Shinnecock culture bearer and Tribal Trustee Gerrod Smith, and Ann Haskell, Marine Educator for the Blue Ocean Institute, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, will talk about the history, impact and methods used by today's local aquaculture systems, on Saturday, April 30, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., hosted by and held at the Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum. Admission is $10 and includes a guided tour of the Museum following the lecture.

This tour will be led by Museum Director/Curator, David Martine and will include the "A Walk with the People," an exhibition of murals, photo gallery and collections depicting the history of the Shinnecock and other coastal eastern woodland cultures, and "My Spirit Dances Forever," The Frederick DeMatteis Collection of bronze sculptures of Native Americans. This event is part a yearlong celebration commemorating the Museum's 10th year anniversary.

Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish.

Particular kinds of aquaculture include fish farming, shrimp farming, oyster farming, algaculture (such as seaweed farming), and the cultivation of ornamental fish.
General admission to the Museum is $5 for adults and $3 for children; it is handicapped accessible and open to the public.

The Shinnecock Museum is the only Native-owned and operated museum on Long Island - located on Montauk Highway (Route 27A) and West Gate Road in Southampton. Contact us at 631-287-4923 or www.shinnecocknation.com. Hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 4 p.m.