Reciprocal Partnership with the Chaubunagungamaug Band of the Nipmuck Indians

About 2 years ago, during a reservation clean-up day with Nipmuc/k-led NGOs, we were introduced to the Tribal leadership of the Chaubunagungamaug Band of the Nipmuck Indians (CBNI). Since this time our relationship has grown to become one based in trust, reciprocity, cross-cultural learning, and a shared understanding. This collaboration with a Tribal government has reinforced our work with Nipmuc/k-led NGOs; we all recognize the importance for land trusts, Nipmuc/k Tribal governments, and Nipmuc/k-led NGOs to work together to support the Nipmuc/k community and care for the lands we collectively steward. 

Working with the CBNI Tribal government has strengthened our approach to land justice at Mount Grace, emphasizing the ways land trusts and conservation practices can affect Tribal sovereignty. This reciprocal relationship helps ground our work more deeply through a better understanding of the historical and modern-day struggles of a Tribal Nation existing under occupation of a foreign colonial government and the impact of land dispossession. This is steering us to include Tribal government priorities in our land conservation work, as they share the collective voice of the people they serve.

Together, we are working on projects to address the needs and priorities of CBNI. The lack of land base has been difficult for their sovereignty and continued cultural existence. We applied for and received the first Massachusetts State Tribal Land Acquisition Grant and we are working to return 90- acres of forest and farmland in Naquag (Rutland) to CBNI stewardship. We are also assisting CBNI- led efforts to reclaim an important ceremonial site and secure capital funding to build the first Nipmuc/k community cultural center for the entire Nipmuc/k community to have office space and gathering/ community space to revitalize their community and culture.

 We also work with CBNI’s Nipmuc Cultural Hunt and Fish (NCHF) to carry out its core mission to revitalize traditional food harvesting practices. NCHF contributes to the food sovereignty initiatives of the Nipmuc/k community through habitat stewardship, wild game hunting and processing, and fishing-- supporting Tribal efforts to reclaim their Foodways and Lifeways. We are developing a blanket Cultural Respect Easement with CBNI to formally recognize the inherent rights of Nipmuc/k citizens to hunt, fish, and gather on land stewarded by Mount Grace. CREs also extend these rights to protect cultural practices. Finally, we are working with CBNI to fund the capacity building of their Tribal Council to serve and support its people.  We are excited to continue to grow our partnership and build upon the work already started.