Tournament on Native Land Makes Millions. A Tribe Wants a Bigger Cut.

The U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills generates millions, yet the Shinnecock Indian Nation has long received only a fraction. The club sits near the tribe's 1.3-square-mile reservation on Long Island, highlighting a decades-long dispute that dates back to 1891. From Thursday to Sunday, the scene blends wealth and excess.

Tribal leaders say the week will yield upward of $800,000 in deals with the USGA, including $200,000 for parking, $200,000 for youth programs, and $100,000 for tickets, plus more than $300,000 from landing fees tied to a helicopter charter during the tournament week. Seneca Bowen, treasurer for the tribe's council, called it 'the best deal we've ever struck' while acknowledging income gains for the community. Still, some members say the agreement is insufficient given a long history of dispossession, Maurice Williams calling it a 'slap in the face'. The USGA says it maintains a strong relationship with Shinnecock but declined to address details.