USDA Funding Supports Northeast Native Americans

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The Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT) is a Tribally led nonprofit organization committed to reconnecting and empowering various Indigenous peoples throughout the Northeast. The Land Trust acts as a catalyst for change, addressing critical issues related to land reclamation and food insecurity for the Pocasset Wampanoag tribe and other marginalized communities. Through its targeted initiatives, PPLT empowers communities across New England to reclaim agricultural practices and enhance local food sovereignty. These efforts not only improve access to fresh, healthy food but also foster a sense of community and cultural pride among Indigenous peoples in the Northeast.

A key element of PPLT’s efforts is funding from the 2501 Program, a U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) program designed to support outreach and assistance for underserved farmers and ranchers. This funding has been crucial in helping the land trust cultivate valuable partnerships. Collaborations with organizations such as Global Village and the Northeast Organic Farming Association have expanded PPLT’s reach, enabling the implementation of mentorship programs and the creation of meaningful community connections. Additionally, PPLT has engaged in extensive grant partnerships with the USDA, including multiple grants from the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

“Leveraging the 2501 Program funding, BFRDP, and NRCS grants has created a functional series of programs that we would never have had otherwise,” said Nathan Erwin, Director of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at PPLT. His work focuses on harnessing relational power to facilitate access to land, promote farm equity, and expand agroecological knowledge.

The organization is focused on improving Indigenous food sovereignty through several initiatives, including community gardens, mentorship programs for local farmers and marketing strategies for Indigenous produce.

“It is essential to have grants, partnerships, and networks because we can’t do this alone,” said Erwin. “Nonprofits need to collaborate to strengthen and build a more robust and sustainable food system for the future.”

Massachusetts Cultural Council Selects Wainer Woods for Photography Project

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Professional photographer and Westport resident Merri Cyr has been awarded a “Grant for Creative Individuals” by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, to document the development of Wainer Woods, LLC, an Indigenous botanical farm and retreat in Westport, MA created by Chief Nij-Pajikwat-Mo`z (Chief Two Running Elk), aka Robert Cox.

Wainer Woods exists as the historic Cuffee-Wainter family farm, purchased by African-Indigenous businessman and philanthropist Paul Cuffee, the wealthiest person of color in the 18th century, then sold to his brother-in-law Michael Wainer in 1799. “Land conservation and sustainability efforts, the building of medicinal foraging trails, non-GMO row crops and banking of regional native tribal seeds will all be highlighted in future photography and video projects,” says Chief Two Running Elk.

Cyr worked as a fine art and commercial photographer for decades, focusing on musicians, artists and actors; she returned to Westport in 2019 to create art and culture projects that help enrich the community. Grants for Creative Individuals is Mass Cultural Council’s primary funding program providing unrestricted financial support to artists, culture bearers and creative practitioners.

Grants for Creative Individuals awards unrestricted grants to individuals in all creative fields: visual artists, literary artists, theater artists, performers, film/media artists, music artists, designers, culture bearers/traditional artists, drag artists, cross-disciplinary artists, and more.

The Agency received 4,470 applications total to the program. Approximately 98% of the grantees are receiving their first grant from Mass Cultural Council.

Mass Cultural Council receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and others. Details on our budget are available online. In turn, Mass Cultural Council makes thousands of grants directly to cultural organizations, schools, communities, and individuals artists, through funding programs that use arts, science, and the humanities to build strong, diverse, livable communities.