UUSA Indigenous Awareness Circle Supports Land Back to Nipmuc Peoples
The Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst Indigenous Awareness Circle has reached unanimous consent to support the Belchertown-Nipmuc Farm Conservation Alliance bid to rematriate state-owned land in Belchertown, MA to the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band in Grafton, MA. This was approved on September 4, 2025. The next step is to ask the entire UUSA congregation to support of the following statement.
The Indigenous Awareness Circle of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst recognizes that….
The United States was built on a foundation of genocide, land theft, and the attempted erasure of Native Peoples
Genocide is not possible without dehumanization of a people
Dehumanization of Native People was supported from many of the pulpits of New England Congregationalists in the 17th and 18th centuries
Unitarian congregations in the United States have their roots in New England Congregationalism
Unitarian Universalist congregations have not done adequate repentance and repair for the harm done by our religious ancestors
Land back is a way to begin the process of repentance and repair
There are multiple Nipmuc / Nipmuck groups making various claims. The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band in Grafton, Massachusetts is the state-recognized tribe.
Therefore….
The Indigenous Awareness Circle of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst supports:
the rematriation of the Lampson Brook Farm Property currently owned by the state of Massachusetts to the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, the state-recognized tribe located in Grafton, Massachusetts
the initiatives of the Belchertown-Nipmuc Farm Conservation Alliance (BNFCA) in support of the rematriation process.
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The UUSA Indigenous Awareness Circle invites other faith-based communities to join us in this effort!