The Nolumbeka Project Inc

The work of the Nolumbeka Project is to honor, share, and celebrate the heritage of the Northeastern tribes through a combination of cultural, educational, and experiential programs, activities, and actions. We work with tribal culture bearers to create opportunities to help restore and illuminate the true Indigenous history of our region and beyond.  Mainstream understanding of the First Nations history, particularly in the Northeast where the settlers first landed, was erased or distorted, influenced by greed and the racial, religious, and cultural biases they brought with them. We try through our works to correct those lies and help heal injustices done to the tribes, to the land, to the environment, and to ourselves through ignorance and deception.  We have a lot to learn and to un-learn. In the more than 30 years since we first formed our organization to protect and preserve what remains of a Pocumtuck village site, we have seen tremendous shifts in public attitudes and understanding of Indigenous lifeways and values. We now understand that many people share our deep longing for more information, better insight, and possible solutions to the problems facing us all. We believe the Native American legacy of connection, reciprocity, and sustainability is crucial to the planet at this point in history.  Our programs are popular and grow every year. We are a non-tribal organization and welcome artists and speakers from federally recognized, state-recognized, and not officially recognized tribes. We are aware of the attempted erasure of the American Indian population and the complications this has caused. 

Our educational and cultural programs and performances are popular and well-attended every year. The intertribal festival in August, now entering its 12th year, attracts thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.  Our events serve as bridges between cultures and individuals. We offer a minimum of four annual free and accessible public gatherings. We base our activities and actions on the Algonquin word  "nolumbeka"  (calm waters between the rapids) and the legacy of welcoming and sharing the Pocumtuck people extended.  Every year for millennia they welcomed people from all over the Northeast to the Great Falls on the Connecticut River to share the bounty of salmon and other fish during the prolific fish runs. These were times of intertribal sharing of resources and skills, renewing friendships, and celebrating.  Disputes were left behind.  

 We are stewards of a 42-acre village site under our care and protection since 2004 and take our role as caretakers of the Wissatinnewag land as a sacred trust. We are currently in negotiation with tribal members, a local land trust, and a lawyer to ensure that the site will continue to be protected and accessible to Northeastern tribes in perpetuity.