Land Acknowledgement
It is with gratitude and humility that we acknowledge that the outdoor recreation we enjoy today takes place on the ancestral homelands of various Indigenous peoples, including the Tribal nations within the Mohican community (People of the Waters That Are Never Still), the Wabanaki Confederacy (People of the Dawnland), and the Schaghticoke tribe. Despite the tremendous hardship of being forced from here, these communities still exist and grow today. Many Wabanaki bands reside in Vermont, Maine, New York, and Canada, while the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans is based in Wisconsin but continues to strengthen its connection to the Housatonic River Valley every day. These communities have a profound and intimate relationship to this land – to the valleys, rivers, meadows, and mountains around us – and we pay honor and respect to their ancestors, past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all.
Action Items:
Work directly with Tribal Governments and Authorized Tribal Representatives when seeking to engage with indigenous communities, culture, and history. For the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, here are some specific resources:
- Download or print the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Info Sheet, for distribution or display.
- Review the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Resource Guide for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
- Take the virtual tour of Mohican history in Stockbridge, MA (or download the walking tour brochure).
- Donate online to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community for a new cultural center.
We also encourage you to learn more about the full history of the region, as well as upcoming events and opportunities to learn, support, and engage:
Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians
https://www.mohican.com/
Despite tremendous hardship in being forced from our region, today the Mohican community resides in Wisconsin and is known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. The Tribe maintains a historic preservation office in western Massachusetts to represent its interest in ancestral places throughout the northeast (https://www.mohican.com/services/cultural-services/historic-preservation/).
Ohketeau Cultural Center
https://www.ohketeau.org/
Ohketeau means ‘a place to plant and grow’ in the Nipmuc language, and it is the only Native founded and run cultural center in all of Central and Western Massachusetts. Since 2017, their work has focused on uplifting the voices of Native peoples and dismantling unjust frameworks, replacing them with accessibility, equity, dignity, and wellness for Native communities. The Ohketeau Cultural Center strives to illuminate the work of Indigenous artists, ancestors, culture-bearers, and activists, thereby expanding the Non-Native audience’s worldviews.
Nolumbeka Project
https://nolumbekaproject.org/
The Nolumbeka Project, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of Native Americans/American Indians of New England through educational programs, art, history, music, heritage seed preservation, and cultural events. The Nolumbeka Project is actively building, maintaining, and expanding a historical archive research library for use by the Tribes and Educators of the Northeast and beyond.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/indian-affairs
The Commonwealth’s Commission on Indian Affairs (MCIA) was created by the legislature in 1974. The Commission is governed by M.G.L. Chapter 6A: Section 8A. The Commission website includes information on current Commission members, meeting notices and minutes, tuition and scholarship information, and many links regarding Native American tribes and resources.
