Shane Weeks Bizhiki Nibauit
Shane Weeks is a proud member of the Shinnecock Nation, located in Southampton, New York. Shane’s traditional upbringing encouraged him to follow in his elders’ footsteps by making the world better for future generations. He grew up understanding the importance of his culture and connection to the natural world, representing the traditions passed down to him by song, dance and drum, as well as learning to hunt and fish at a young age. Deeply devoted to his community, Shane represents his people in a number of capacities, as an author, traditional singer and dancer, cultural consultant, artist, and member of several local boards and committees. He is the owner of Ohke Creations, a candle and jewelry business and he also serves as Co-Founder and Director of Research and Education at the Metoac Indigenous Collective, an intertribal organization focused on cultural preservation. Shane is a recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award granted to him in 2023. As an artist, Shane works in many different mediums. He has participated in residencies with a number of artists and often works with indigenous communities from around the world. Over all, Shane's mission is to bridge the gap between the Shinnecock community, the local East End, and communities abroad.
You can visit Shane's websites www.bizhiki.com and www.metoaccollective.org
Featured Pieces in otec
Mishoon
Title:
By: Shane Weeks
Assisted By: Chenae Bullock
Wampum Belt By: Shane Weeks
Wampum Carvings By: Tecumseh Ceaser
Materials: White Pine, Wampum
Dimensions: 90.5” x 17” x 15.5” in.
This Mishoon is a miniature artistic representation of a traditional seafaring vessel used by the Indigenous people of Long Island. These vessels are recorded as bei
Title:
By: Shane Weeks
Assisted By: Chenae Bullock
Wampum Belt By: Shane Weeks
Wampum Carvings By: Tecumseh Ceaser
Materials: White Pine, Wampum
Dimensions: 90.5” x 17” x 15.5” in.
This Mishoon is a miniature artistic representation of a traditional seafaring vessel used by the Indigenous people of Long Island. These vessels are recorded as being able to carry over 80 people. This Mishoon is made of white pine which was sourced and provided by the Sylvester Manor Educational Farm in Manhassett territory on Shelter Island, NY.
It was traditionally burned out by Shane Weeks and Chenae Bullock, both members of the Shinnecock Nation, over several overnight sessions. Shane and Chenae are both Mishoon makers from their community and work towards strengthening and perpetuating Mishoon Culture on Long Island through their business and organizations, Moskhetu Consulting Firm, Chenae Bullock and Metoac Indigenous Collective, Shane Weeks, Tecumseh Ceaser, and Bianca Collins.
The Wampum belt was created by Shane Weeks and represents the 7 Grandfather Teachings. It consists of both Quahog and Whelk shell beads. The inlay wampum pieces made by Tecumseh Ceaser represent a whale and a star, both significant to paddlers of Long Island.
Wampum Belt
Name: Ouwatūonk
By: Shane Weeks
Materials: Quahog Clam Shell, Waxed Linen, Loom - Hickory Wood
Dimensions: 17" x 7.5" x 7" in.
Year: 2025
Description: Ouwatūonk means “kindred” in the Indigenous language of Eastern Long Island, a dialect of Algonquian. Ouwatūonk is what is known as a wampum belt and is traditionally considered a living bein
Name: Ouwatūonk
By: Shane Weeks
Materials: Quahog Clam Shell, Waxed Linen, Loom - Hickory Wood
Dimensions: 17" x 7.5" x 7" in.
Year: 2025
Description: Ouwatūonk means “kindred” in the Indigenous language of Eastern Long Island, a dialect of Algonquian. Ouwatūonk is what is known as a wampum belt and is traditionally considered a living being. Wampum, made from the Quahog Clam shell, is understood to be very sacred amongst the Indigenous people of this part of the world and is used to record history, mark events, and solidify agreements. In contemporary use, it takes on an art form and as jewelry.
Today we call all items made from the Quahog Clam, wampum, but that word only describes the white part of the shell. In its full form, the word is wampumpeage. The purple beads are called Suckauhock. These beads are usually made from the dark purple “eye” called the Suckauaskeesaquash. The belt also includes beads made from the whelk shell, another sacred being. These beads are called Metahuock and share the name with the name for the collective Indigenous groups of Long Island, from Queens to Montauk meaning “Place Of The Heart” . One name for Long Island is Sewanacky which loosely means “sewan - scattered beads”, “Ohke - Land/Earth”. Describing the vast source of traditional wampum bead manufacturers on Long Island.
Ouwatūonk speaks about our connection, disconnection, and reconnection to the earth. It shows our original understanding that we, human beings, are one with nature and walk the same path. As we exploit, disrespect, and take from nature without considering balance, we also take from ourselves. We, human kind, feel a false sense of progress that is ultimately unsustainable. It also speaks of a rapid return to balance for self and environment upon our consciousness around our own responsibility to creation.
Prints
Title: Intention
By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2025
A Humpback whale, with all its size, moves gracefully. Every movement with intention. They carry many teachings and are respected as one of the most sacred animals in Shinnecock culture.
Title: Creation
Photo By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2019
A Sunrise over
Title: Intention
By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2025
A Humpback whale, with all its size, moves gracefully. Every movement with intention. They carry many teachings and are respected as one of the most sacred animals in Shinnecock culture.
Title: Creation
Photo By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2019
A Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean in Shinnecock Territory. All that is needed for on earth within one image.
Title: Retention
By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2024
Memory brings us back to the water. The water relates humans and trees as kin. This image is taken in traditional Shinnecock Territory at one of the last Atlantic White Cedar forests on Long Island.
Title: Progress
By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2025
When the birds are done using their nests in the spring, they are collected by our people to light ceremonial fires. Ceremonial fires can not have anything unnatural put in them, therefore bird’s nests with plastic in them can not be used. This image represents a false sense of progress we as human beings feel in accommodating the use of technologies such as plastic that are ultimately detrimental to creation. As a part of creation, it is then detrimental to ourselves.
Title: Humility
By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2016
A Black Legged Poison Dart Frog in Colombia. Though the size of a fingertip, it is the second most deadly frog in the world. Even with this ability, its young start life just as we do; dependent.
Title: Of The Earth
By: Shane Weeks
Dimensions: 16” x 24” in.
Year: 2025
Description: There is a reason Indigenous people acknowledge our earth as our mother. There is a reason Indigenous people lived in abundance for so long.
Film
Title: Evocation
By: Shane Weeks
Medium: Film
Year: 2025
Description: Evocation is a silent film designed to be projected over the New York City Panorama model within the Queens Museum. This film reminisces a land that once was. The bounty and balance of creation that once was the land we now call New York City.
Evocation exhibits a contrast
Title: Evocation
By: Shane Weeks
Medium: Film
Year: 2025
Description: Evocation is a silent film designed to be projected over the New York City Panorama model within the Queens Museum. This film reminisces a land that once was. The bounty and balance of creation that once was the land we now call New York City.
Evocation exhibits a contrast of “now & then”. In the ongoing theme of false progress found in Shane’s work, this film is meant to encourage the viewer to rethink how we look at perceived societal inclination in a way that evokes our responsibility to the natural world we are a part of.
Title: Unnꝏhamáonk (A Song)
Filmed By: Shane Weeks, Denice Banks
Edited By: Shane Weeks
Medium: Film
Year: 2005
Description: Unnꝏhamáonk is a compilation of interview footage compiled by Shane Weeks featuring each artist that has participated in Of The Earth: Connections. Each artist speaks about their featured pieces in this exhibition as well as their process in its creation. They speak on their experience and understanding of connecting with their culture and with the earth. They give insights on their thoughts on how others can connect with and protect the earth too.
Each artist has a longer version of their interview segment on the Of The Earth: Connections website www.OfTheEarthConnections.com including images of their featured pieces.
Mishoon Gallery
Wampum belt Gallery
Prints Gallery
Intention
By: Shane Weeks
Progress
By: Shane Weeks
Retention
By: Shane Weeks
Creation
By: Shane Weeks
Humility
By: Shane Weeks