History + Land
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All of us at Heartwood Nature School acknowledge that this land we live, love, and teach on is the unceded territory of the Abenaki, Pawtucket, and Pennacook peoples, and the Wabanaki Confederacy.
As humans, we have a duty to reflect upon and learn from our past. We recognize that these Indigenous Peoples are the traditional caretakers of our land and will work to not only learn about their history and culture ourselves but to pass on this learning to the children and families we serve.
We will work to partner with and empower Indigenous and Native people within our community and beyond, and work towards a more inclusive and equitable community while doing everything we can to repair the damage done and provide reparations of some sort to those who so sincerely deserve them.
RESOURCES TO FURTHER YOUR LEARNING
This website will show you exactly what Native peoples originally owned the land you live and work on.
Information about Line 3, a pipeline set to carry tar sands through northern Minnesota, crossing the Leech Lake and Fond du Lac reservations and the 1855, 1854, and 1842 treaty areas.
The Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness is a local organization that works to educate the general public about Native issues and provides assistance, scholarships, and spiritual and cultural support to Native/Indigenous citizens of Massachusetts. Take a look at their events and fundraising initiatives and please donate! The organization is also in search of land to teach its youth traditional building and gardening methods, as well as a building to serve as its headquarters.
WHAT TO READ + WATCH
BRAIDING SWEETGRASS
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
by Howard Zinn
Maple Crest Farm
HISTORY OF
Maple Crest Farm has been in the Elwell family for over 100 years. The historical farmhouse dates back to 1729. John Elwell, known as the beloved Farmer John to students at Maple Crest, runs the farm now with his family's support.
Farmer John is a former educator himself, working as a teacher and then the Principal at Hamilton-Wenham High School and Newburyport High School for many years.
Maple Crest was nearly 180 acres at one time, managing cows, turkeys, a chicken hatchery, pigs, sheep, horses, and many fruits and vegetables. In the late 1970s, the City of Newburyport purchased about 80 acres to build the large reservoir.
John and Carol took over the farm in the late 1990s and planted their first Christmas tree and strawberry plants in 2002. Since then, they plant new trees and strawberries annually and have expanded to include blueberries, raspberries, sunflowers, pumpkins, and gourds.
The Elwell family supports community conservation efforts as well as educational and addiction recovery initiatives. John sits on the board of ACES, and they donate annually to the local education foundations and the Pelican Fund.