A Conversation With Elizabeth Haile, Rev. Holly Haile Davis and Rev. Alison Cornish



From the Sag Harbor Express


by Emily J Weitz


A Conversation with the Rev. Holly Haile Davis and her mother, Elizabeth Haile, two prominent members of the Shinnecock Nation who recently took part in “The Accidental and Intentional Neighborness of our Communities” a discussion with Rev. Alison Cornish held at the meetinghouse of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork.
You led this discussion at the UU Meeting House last week. How did it go?
Holly: I’d like to define discussion. Alison and I decided to begin a conversation last year at this time. It took the form of a dialogue sermon at the meeting house. A conversation between us in a public arena. It was very tentative, opening a door that in my mind has never been opened. What I mean by that is outsiders wanting to have more than a one-way conversation with the Shinnecock. It’s been very one-sided for 370 years. To have a conversation where more than one side’s will was being considered was represented in our dialogue sermon last November. And so this was then part two of that continuing conversation. .  ..... more 
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note: Rebecca (Becky) referred to in this article is Rebecca Genia, Rev. Holly Hails Davis' cousin and a member of the Inter-Tribal Historic Preservation Task Force devoted to preservation of ancient native burial sites.