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 this Barnstable, MA 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 in Sandwich, MA to NLC. 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 donated his summer home in Cotuit, MA 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, MA.
2019
Wakeby Islands
The Andrew J. Lipnosky Trust donated three culturally significant islands on Mashpee-Wakeby Pond in Mashpee, MA.
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 in Yarmouth, MA. *In June of 2023 Jacqueline donated an additional 18 acres in the second of three planned donations.
2020
DorchestEr Brook
Elliot Schnieder gave over 14 acres in the town of Easton, MA, 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 in Mashpee, MA
2022
ekvn-yefolecv
NLC expanded to become a national organization in order to hold a conservation restriction on 776 acres of land in Alabama. The land is home to an endangered old-growth longleaf pine ecosystem in the care of Ekvn-Yefolecv, a Maskoke eco-village restoring traditional culture and lifeways centered on the endangered Maskoke language.
2022
Wampanoag Common Lands
The Muddy Pond Trust, with guidance from the Sheehan family, donated over 32 acres in Kingston, MA, to the NLC to hold on behalf of the Wampanoag Nation.
2023
Aquinnah Circle
NLC purchased 3.3 acres of land and a historic restaurant on the crest of the Gay Head Cliffs in Aquinnah,MA. The property of cultural significance to the Aquinnah Wampanoag is being held by NLC until the Aquinnah Land Initiative can raise the funds to purchase the land.
2024
Nepesoneag
Dvora Eisenstein and Lorelie Bond donated 53.7 acres of woodlands in Leverett, MA, to NLC without any restrictions. The mountainscape and wildlife habitat dissected by Doolittle Brook borders Nipmuc territory.
2024
Tall Turtle
Sarah Kohler donated 7.47 acres of hillside woodlands featuring significant ancient rock formations in New Salem, MA, to be restored to the original caretakers of the earth.
Be a part of our story
Support for the Native Land Conservancy is a gift that will continue to give for generations to come.