Partnerships

two people holding hands

We are working to build partnerships with philanthropy, nonprofit, and governmental partners, by leveraging resources and bringing awareness of the needs and unique status of our Chabunagungamaug band of Nipmuck and our neighboring Nipmuc communities focusing on conservation, economic development, and education. This is a list of the many groups that we have established partnerships with. 

Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge & Science (CBIKS)

The Chaubunagungamaug and Hassanamisco bands have been working on a project along with the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Herring Pond Wampanoag called the Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges with Science or more readily known as CBIKS.

This ambitious collaboration is the 1st of its kind for Massachusetts tribes working together as a community in developing community climate resilience hubs for our respective areas. These spaces would provide a community run tribal building (HIB) for tribal capacity growth and meeting space, as well as serve the neighboring community during times of natural disasters caused by climate change. The hubs were designed by the UMASS Amherst architectural program with an indigenous flavor and space.

Representatives on the CBIKS process included many representatives from UMASS Amherst as well as 4 tribal nations in Massachusetts. 

  • Jason Steiding – Natural Resource Director for the Mashpee Wampanoag
  • Cheryl Holly – Chief Sonksq of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc
  • Ite Santana – Councilor of Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck
  • Jacky Saltalamachia – Tribal leader of the Herring Pond Wampanoag

The CBIKS project was directed and led by Sonya Adalay and the UMass Donahue Institute. This grant was submitted in November of 2024 after a 6-month intense grant writing process with professional guidance and lots of meetings. Hopes were high for an answer to come in February of 2025, but it was held up. We still await a response, but the current political climate is not in our favor. Stay Tuned!

Food Bank Western Massachusetts

Since 1982, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been feeding our neighbors in need and leading the community to end hunger. They distribute food to members in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. 

Harvard Forest Land Trust

CBNI has collaborated with Harvard Forest Land Trust in the following:

  • Start-up funding received to develop the Nipmuck Cultural Hunt and Fish Club.  Initial funding was used to organize our 1st Ice fishing event, and they continue to support.
  • CBNI has worked with Harvard Forest Land Trust to create cultural easements on their properties which allow Nipmuck people access to their properties for cultural and ceremonial uses.

A project is in the planning stage to develop user-friendly maps to provide details to the Nipmuck people about the lands that we have access to. Our sister tribe, the Hassanamisco band, leads the project. Ite Santana will lead the CBNI effort to develop the mapping with Chery Holly working with Harvard Forest and interns. The team will take classes at Clark University to better understand the mapping system. This is an ongoing effort.

Mount Grace - Tribal Land Acquisition Grant

CBNI has been awarded a State Grant to purchase land with strict guidelines on holding a conservation restriction (CR) on the land.  Though the process for this grant was accelerated, we were able to secure the application and have been awarded the grant.

A farm in Massachusetts has been selected that would meet our food sovereignty goals, conserve land and address the landowner’s desire to preserve the property. Negotiations will continue to be underway. Ite Santana is the writer of the grant and lead CBNI representative.

Nipmuck citizens will be encouraged to participate at the farm. More news to come.

Nipmuc/k Tribal Cultural Council (TCC)

This is a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council, Hassanamisco and CBNI to promote cultural events with Nipmuc/k citizens. CBNI members include Emily Gardiner, Antonio Santana and Ite Santana.

Tribal Cultural Council Program – Mass Cultural Council

The Tribal Cultural Council (TCC) Program, an expansion of the Local Cultural Council Program, supports Native American and Indigenous communities by providing funds for Tribal governments to manage projects that provide community benefit.

Northern CT Land Trust in Nipmuck Woods

Nipmuck Woods is a 79-acre parcel that was purchased in Stafford from the Stafford Fish & Game Club. This upland forest is near Roaring Brook in Stafford and abuts the Nipmuck State Forest and connects through the forest to the NCLT-protected White Farm.

Western Mass Reparations Collective

Western Mass Reparations Collective is an organization dedicated to building reparative relationships to repair past inequality and social injustice through monetary donations. Donations go towards our annual Powwow.