WD Cowls Returns 500 Acres to Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band

Source: Hassansmisco Nipmuc Band

The following announcement about the land-return of 500 acres to the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band is awe-inspiring — let goodness and restitution prevail, even in 2025! We are printing the Hassanamisco Council’s announcement as they released it, honoring their practice to issue all statements and responses as a group/ We will follow up with more information after they discuss a series of questions we have asked. In the meantime, follow these links to learn more about the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band’s forward-looking projects, their roots in the land, and their practice of sustainable living: Hassanamisco Nipmuc website and Dukakis executive order about Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribal Council. — Kitty Axelson-Berry

In a historic moment of reconciliation and stewardship, 500 acres of land have been returned to the  Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, a state-recognized Indigenous tribe in  Massachusetts. This gift was made by Cinda Jones of WD Cowls as a gesture of respect for the tribe’s enduring connection to their ancestral  homelands. This return represents a monumental step in addressing  historical injustices while fostering Indigenous-led stewardship  grounded in the tribe’s cultural values. 

“We are profoundly grateful to Cinda Jones and WD Cowls for this  transformative gift,” said Cheryll Toney Holley, Sonksq of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band. “For us, this is not just about reclaiming  land but restoring an important relationship with an integral part of the  Nonotuck homelands. As we embrace this land, we reaffirm our  commitment to care for it as our ancestors have for generations—with  respect and reciprocity.” 

The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band has long been at the forefront of revitalizing traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous land management practices. This return provides an opportunity to continue  these efforts on a broader scale, ensuring that the land is not only preserved but thrives as part of an interconnected ecosystem. 

For Cinda Jones, this gift reflects a growing movement among private  landowners to support Indigenous sovereignty and environmental  justice. “This land belongs in the care of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc  Band, whose stewardship practices are rooted in respect for the Earth,”  said Jones. “I am honored to play a small role in this historic moment.” 

The tribe plans to integrate the land into their ongoing cultural and  environmental initiatives, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge  (TEK)-based land stewardship, educational programs for their  community, and efforts to protect biodiversity and sacred sites. The  return also amplifies the broader narrative of land back movements,  which aim to restore Indigenous peoples’ rightful access and  stewardship of their homelands. 

The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band invites community members, allies,  and supporters to join them in celebrating this historic occasion. Plans  for a formal celebration and land blessing ceremony will be announced  in the coming weeks.

About the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band 
The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band is a band of the Nipmuc or “freshwater people” with homelands in present-day  Central Massachusetts, the Merrimack and Connecticut River Valleys, Northeast Connecticut, and Northwest Rhode Island. This band is also the caretaker of the Hassanamesit Reservation in present-day Grafton, Massachusetts. This reservation is the last 3.5 acres still in Nipmuc possession and the location of the Printer Homestead.  

The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band is governed by the Sonksq (female leader), Tribal Council and Elders Council.  Find more information at nipmuc.gov.