Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s Land Return and Access Committee and the co-directors of Niweskok invite the community to a gathering on June 4 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Pascal Hall, 86 Pascal Avenue, in Rockport. Attendees will hear about a recent land return project in the Midcoast and learn how community members can support this work.

Niweskok: From the Stars to Seeds, is a local Wabanaki-led nonprofit organization and collaboration of food and medicine providers, rematriating the Penobscot Bay region as an Indigenous foodhub. They recently acquired a 245-acre farm along the Goose River in Swanville that will be the base for their organization’s work.

The land return project and the capital campaign to acquire the farm was led by Niweskok. Coastal Mountains Land Trust, Maine Farmland Trust, Legacy Works, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust joined them in this effort, according to a news release from CMLT.

Supporting Wabanaki communities in regaining access to their ancestral lands is in keeping with Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s mission to permanently conserve land and connect people with nature.

The Land Trust stewards lands in Penobscot and Abenaki territories and as an organization is committed to building relationships with Wabanaki communities and providing safe access and opportunities to engage in their traditional uses of these lands. 

Niweskok’s leadership and partnership with land conservation organizations has been widely celebrated as a model to be replicated, the release said.

Niweskok was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Espy Land Heritage Award, an statewide award given to an individual, organization, agency or coalition to recognize those who are making outstanding contributions to land conservation in Maine while inspiring others.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust is continuing to raise funds in support of Niweskok’s stewardship of their newly acquired property. The event on June 4 will be an opportunity for people to learn about Niweskok, the work happening on the farm, and how to support these efforts. 

This event is free and all are welcome. RSVPs for the event are encouraged through the Land Trust by emailing tempe@coastalmountains.org.