Niamuck Land Trust Acquisition & Stewardship Fund 

Securing Land for Future Generations

The Niamuck Land Trust Acquisition & Stewardship Fund (ASF) is a dedicated source of funding that provides us with greater flexibility and opportunity to move quickly to protect and reclaim critical lands and cultural and historic significance to the Shinnecock community. Rooted in the understanding that this land was systematically taken from Indigenous peoples under colonial legal frameworks—most notably the Doctrine of Discovery—the ASF is an urgent and important tool for restoring land to Indigenous stewardship and conserving it for future generations.

Why is this Fund Necessary?

For centuries, laws and policies rooted in the Doctrine of Discovery justified the seizure of Indigenous lands, treating them as empty or unclaimed wastelands. Today, the effects of this history persist in real estate markets that prioritize private development over community stewardship, and in conservation models that have often excluded Indigenous leadership. The ASF exists to disrupt these patterns—ensuring that land remains in the hands of those who will protect and restore it, rather than exploit it for short-term profit.

As land prices rise and development pressures increase, it is essential to act quickly to reclaim and conserve as much land as possible. The ASF allows for timely action when key parcels become available, ensuring that opportunities to return land to Indigenous stewardship and community-centered conservation are not lost.

How the Fund Works

• Rapid Response to Land Sales
  The real estate market operates on a fast timeline, often prioritizing buyers who can move quickly with attractive offers. This fund ensures that conservation and Indigenous land reclamation efforts can compete, securing critical parcels before they are lost to private developers.
  

• Restoring Land-Based Governance
  The Acquisition Fund supports efforts to return Shinnecock land to the Shinnecock community through the Niamuck Land trust and prioritizes sustainable stewardship. It is an investment in breaking cycles of dispossession and returning decision-making power to those with ancestral and ecological knowledge of the land.
  
  

• Leveraging Additional Funds
  Many grants and funding sources require matching funds or initial capital. With a well-resourced Acquisition & Stewardship Fund, we’re able to significantly leverage these external dollars and expand the reach and impact of land reclamation efforts.
  
  

• Seed Money for Large-Scale Projects
  The fund is not just for immediate land purchases; it also supports due diligence efforts such as land surveys, environmental assessments, and legal processes that make long-term reclamation and conservation possible. Additionally, it helps to secure resources for the long-term care of the land, ensuring that conservation efforts remain sustainable.
  
  

Investing in Land Futures

Land is more than property—it is home, history, and a living connection to future generations. The work of reclaiming land is not just about conservation; it is an act of justice, repairing centuries of harm caused by colonial land dispossession.

By contributing to the Niamuck Land Trust Acquisition & Stewardship Fund, you are actively participating in the movement to dismantle the legacies of the Doctrine of Discovery and restore land to Indigenous stewardship. This is an opportunity to shape a future where land is valued for its ecological and cultural significance, rather than as a commodity for extraction and speculation.

To learn more about how you can support this work, please reach out to Tela Troge at ttroge@gmail.com or make a contribution today.