Cultural Hunt & Fish Club

The Nipmuc Cultural Hunt & Fish Club (NCHF)

Mission statement of NCHF

“To rekindle our relationship with the land, the Nipmuc Cultural Hunt and Fish Club is the first Indigenous Nipmuc led organization dedicated to reviving traditional approaches with modern methods for the sustainable harvesting of wild game and fish.

We are committed to training future generations as stewards of the land, fostering a clean and healthy environment for native wildlife to thrive naturally, ensuring balance with nature while promoting food sovereignty. Through habitat restoration, relationship building and modern and traditional native stewardship practices, we aim to reclaim our historical relationship with the land and beyond.

We work in tandem with Nipmuc farming, Nipmuc led NGO’s, land trusts and allied agencies involved with land stewardship work.

NCHF Key Goals

Skills Development: Provide training and resources for hunting, fishing, and gathering traditional plants and animals to meet indigenous food and medicinal needs in today's society.
Land Stewardship: Support the restoration and maintenance of natural balance within ancestral homelands through traditional and holistic methods, fostering food sovereignty and a harmonious relationship between people and the land.
Cultural Revitalization: Rekindle the relationships with hunting and fishing as integral parts of indigenous life, promoting a natural balance between traditional practices and modern society.
Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer: Establish a core group of hunters, fishers, and gatherers capable of passing down knowledge and skills to future generations through practice and teaching.
Access and Affordability: Provide youths with access to necessary hunting and fishing equipment and resources, overcoming financial barriers to participation and ensuring proper training for success and safety.
Education and Outreach: Hold events and provide training on hunting, fishing, and land stewardship, covering a wide range of topics including safety, equipment usage, butchering skills, and meat preservation.
Collaboration and Support: Work with Nipmuc tribal entities, allied agencies, and organizations to support food sovereignty, land stewardship, and cultural revitalization efforts, sharing knowledge and resources for mutual benefit.
Cultural Preservation: Introduce Nipmuc people to traditional hunting and fishing practices, share knowledge with other tribes and organizations, and promote respect for indigenous traditions and cultural heritage.
Resource Management: Learn and teach traditional fishing techniques, promote sustainable hunting practices, and raise awareness of indigenous existence and traditional territories in the post-colonial era.
Medicinal and Cultural Uses: Explore traditional medicinal and cultural uses of animals and plant fauna, collaborate with medicine groups, language reclamation groups, traditional artists, and cultural awareness groups to preserve and revitalize indigenous knowledge and practices.
Community Support: Provide services for food distribution, collaborate with environmental officials to access deer and animal activity, and engage with state and local officials to promote understanding and mutual respect for indigenous goals and initiatives.

These key goals reflect a holistic approach to cultural and environmental preservation, community empowerment, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, showcasing the club's dedication to reclaiming and revitalizing traditional Nipmuc practices and fostering a healthy, sustainable relationship with the land.