5/4/2024 – Earlier today, the DCLT had the honor of hosting the Native Land Conservancy (NLC), an Indigenous-led land trust based in Mashpee, MA, for a tour of the properties covered by their mutual Cultural Respect Easement (CRE). Signed in December of 2021, the CRE provides safe passage to the NLC and its Indigenous constituents for traditional ceremonies and practices, on all of DCLT’s properties, forever.
During today’s visit, DCLT was eager to show NLC staff and members some of DCLT’s most culturally significant properties. The visit started at DCLT’s headquarters, where Joseph Masse, DCLT President, made welcoming remarks. The tour commenced at DCLT’s Fresh Pond North property, a 20-acre whitecedar swamp, where DCLT and the NLC held a CRE celebration in May of 2022. From there, they visited Fresh Pond South, Tobey Woodlands, and finally, Black Flats, which had been the site of a 5-year “Cultural Respect Agreement” that served as the foundation of the organizations’ growing partnership (check out the video at the top of the page, here). Back at headquarters, the group enjoyed lunch and mingling, before Ramona Peters, NLC President and Founder, made closing remarks.
The DCLT was happy to have three of its Executive Directors attend the tour, including: Kat Garafoli (2014-2019), Julie Early (2019-2022), and Dave Fryxell (2022-present). All were involved in building the partnership.
To learn more about the Native Land Conservancy and Cultural Respect Easements, visit the NLC’s website.