Forests
Forest Revitalization
We work with allied organizations, land trusts and organizations to understand and identify improvements to the landscape and share knowledge. We have begun the work of forest and agricultural revitalization by:
- Repatriating culturally significant native plants into the forests and woodlands while applying indigenous knowledge and principles.
- Actively monitoring our woodlands to help create and foster harmonious natural spaces for plants and wildlife.
- Mapping and creating cultural inventories to monitor our work in the field.
- Re-learning traditional medicines and actively sourcing them through cultural inventories on lands throughout the state.
- Creating cultural easements for our people to harvest and utilize resources on these lands.
Identification of Invasives and Native Species
Many projects and gathering circles are centered around teaching and identifying invasives and native species. These cultural inventories are catalogued and mapped for future reference. Native plant species are also being replanted in many spaces through the work of our Nipmuc Non-profit-organizations or NGOs and allies.
Cedar Swamp Revitalization
Cedar groves are culturally very significant and have been in decline for many years. Through the hard work of our Nipmuc NGO’s and allied organizations, there is active work being conducted in the cedar swamps of Nipmuc territory. This work involves understanding the decline of cedar and developing plans for the revitalization of these spaces. As part of this work cedar poles are harvested using traditional methods for cultural uses such as building our homesites. By working in these spaces we are able to monitor the groves and begin to bring health back to these endangered spaces. More work is underway. These Cedar tree revitalization activities are conducted through the hard work and expertise provided and led by Nipmuc NGO's Chagwas and No_Loose_Braids as well as thorugh the support from allied agencies such as Norcross, DCR, Mass Audubon and the Town of Monson.
