News & Notes! 

Got Land?

The Historical Nipmuc People continue to strive for justice, not only for their Nation but for the preservation of land, Culture and Tradition ,that is a part of our beautiful state of Massachusssets as well as our Tribe.Since the first arrival of Europeans to the shores of New England, Nipmuc people have been pushed aside, lands usurped, coupled with an overall devastation that still has deleterious effects to this day. However there have been many treaties and laws that have been broken through the centuries that could restore the Nipmuc Peoples Land and viability.Such as the well chronicled and documented book by Dennis A. Connole: “The Indians of Nipmuck Country in Southern New England 1630-1750” This book goes into great detail of all the stolen lands and “misdeeds” of the State. But this goes even further, In more recent years, Executive order 126 passed in 1976, this document speaks to many rights, services and lands to be returned by the state as well as the federal government. http://lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/eo/eotext/EO126.txt   But this has not happened, we are here and we have always been here, even the Massachusetts State Senate Recognizes “Historical Nipmuc Tribe is the original inhabitants of Massachusetts”All we seek is justice, not special favors but we ask the state and federal government to just go by their own laws and undue the wrongs by returning land to the Nipmuc people.As you see on the map below, we once lived on thousands of square miles of land, today we are reduced to less than 15 acres. Why do we want land? Culture, Tradition and the Viability of our people. Building a cultural center, schools, health center, elderly housing, organic farming using cutting edge technology along with traditional values to protect and preserve mother earth. Rebuilding our community through language, culture and education. Working with the state and federal government and many other organizations to help preserve our land, wildlife and waters, for all to enjoy for many generations to come.We are part of Massachusssets and always will be, we want to continue to work with schools, towns and civic organizations on cultural education and environmental awareness, we have many hopes and dreams, to many to list here,  but they are all in accordance to our traditional principles and teachings.We want to also say point blank, this is not about displacing any towns or citizens; there are several dozen “state forests” within Nipmuc homeland that the land deeds are in question.Further for the record, the Land Is Not for Casinos, that is not our way or our path.The land was stolen from our people because it was said we did not make good use of it, by now as many conservationist state, our ancestors had it right, we were preserving and protecting the land and with your help we can do it again. In the name of our Ancestors and the   future of our state for all its citizens, as well as in the name of justice.  We write this letter as a reminder to the state and for the citizens who are not aware. Please reach out to your Congress Person or State or federal official.  We ask for your help and support. If you have thoughts on how to help us please let us know Historicalnipmuctribe@hotmail.com   we thank you for  taking the time to read are words and listen to our heart.