Our Story
In the words of NLC founder, Ramona Peters:
As a Wampanoag, like most indigenous people, my culture is earth based. Throughout life, I and my people have felt the destruction being done to our homelands and sought ways to slow, stop and heal. Founding the NLC is one answer.
“I founded the NLC to see if people would be inclined to give some land back at this point in our social evolution.”
2012
Founding
The NLC was founded as the first Native American-led land conservation group east of the Mississippi.
2014
Early land justice alliances
Members of the NLC met with Kerry Kennedy from the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights.
2015
First land gift
Norman Hayes donated land he inherited from his father who said, “Wachônumk ahkee kah ahkee peesh kuwachônuqunâw,”in English: “Take care of the Land, and the Land will take care of you.”
Later in 2015
Wakeby Preserve
The Sandwich Conservation Trust gifted the preserve, a unique example of one conservation group transferring land to another.
2016
Bringing Cultural Respect Easements to the East
The NLC and Dennis Conservation Land Trust signed a five-year cultural respect agreement, the first of its kind on the East Coast. It would eventually be renewed into a perpetual easement.
2018
Cotuit Cottage
Craig Simpson made the decision to bequeath his summer home to the NLC as a gesture of social repair.
2019
First Chop Chaque Lots
Emma Jo Mills Brennan chose the NLC to be the perpetual caretaker of three woodlots in Mashpee.
2019
Wakeby Islands
The Andrew J. Lipnosky Trust donated three culturally significant islands on Mashpee-Wakeby Pond.
2020
Simpkins Bogs
Jacqueline Rivero donated nearly 11 acres and committed to eventually gifting the remainder of her 30-acre property with historic cultural significance.
2020
DorchestEr Brook
Elliot Schnieder gave over 14 acres in the town of Easton, expanding the NLC’s land care and protection beyond Cape Cod.
Adding to the Chop Chaque Lots
2021
Like his sister, Jeffrey Mills turned to the NLC to protect three woodlots from future development.
2022
Wampanoag Common Lands
The Muddy Pond Trust with guidance from the Sheehan family, donated over 32 acres in Kingston to the NLC to hold on behalf of the Wampanoag Nation.
Be a part of our story
Support for the Native Land Conservancy is a gift that will continue to give for generations to come.