Acknowledging the Past, Present, and Future

Your woods have a human history that goes back for thousands of generations and continues indefinitely into the future. The Indigenous people of New York, the original stewards of your land, have been largely displaced through a process of forced removal, though they still maintain a physical and cultural presence in their ancestral homelands. To learn who the first stewards of your woods were and where they are today, check out the resources below.

My Goal is to...

Before Colonization

Before European colonists arrived in what would become the United States of America, there were almost 600 established communities totaling millions of people already living on, working with, and stewarding the land and water.

Native Americans of the NYC Watershed

There are three main groups of people that call the NYC Watershed their ancestral homelands: the Mohicans, the Lenape, and the Haudenosaunee. The three groups are related, but distinct, with their own tribal histories.

Land Stewardship

The Ecology of Northeastern North America has been shaped by the land use practices of the people who lived here for thousands of years.

Federally Recognized Tribes

There are 8 federally recognized tribes residing in New York State, and 6 more federally recognized tribes originally from parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania residing on reservations in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Ontario. These 6 displaced tribes are the descendants of the people displaced from New York City, the NYC Watershed, and Hudson Valley.

Return to Ancestral Homelands

It is a myth that contemporary indigenous people live only on reservations and are not present in the modern world or their ancestral homelands. Efforts are being made by native groups and individuals, federally recognized tribes, and non-profit organizations, to return to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast and maintain a presence there, both physically and culturally.

A Seat at the Table

Educated, informed, and involved people are better able to support themselves and their communities. The importance of this is especially true for Indigenous Americans, as they are often excluded or disregarded from decision making processes, even the ones that directly impact their communities and ways of life.

Moving Forwards

If you are a non-Native landowner, you can support Native Americans and their legacy by staying informed and correcting myths, stereotypes, and other inaccuracies. Instead of believing and spreading falsehoods, rely on accurate information to share awareness of the reality of being indigenous in the Unites States today.