The Conservation Fund has had the honor of working with tribal groups in the state of Delaware to support their efforts to reclaim ancestral land for education, agriculture and other traditional uses. Most recently, the Nanticoke Indian Tribe has worked to recover a priority property in Sussex County to better preserve and share its rich history.

For decades, the Nanticoke owned only a small one-acre plot of their ancestral land, where a historic school was located, and had to lease lands for their annual powwow and other tribal functions. So when 31 acres went up for sale next door to their one-acre parcel, it quickly became a priority for the tribe to reclaim and protect that land for traditional uses such as agriculture and education for generations to come.

Chief Natosha Norwood Carmine — the first female chief in the tribe’s history — was instrumental in making this project a reality for the Nanticoke people.

This land will help the Native Roots Farm Foundation — a Nanticoke initiative — carry out its mission of sustainable and native farming on ancestral lands. The 31 acres is also directly adjacent to the Nanticoke Indian Museum, formerly the Indian Mission School, which is owned and operated by the tribe and is the only Native American museum in Delaware.

Our Role

Conservation is not just a tool for protecting our environment, but also for preserving history and culture. We were able to support the Nanticoke Indian Tribe’s efforts by acquiring the property when it went up for sale and donating it to the tribe for their ongoing ownership. The donation was made possible with generous funding from Mt. Cuba Center. The land will remain protected in perpetuity thanks to a conservation easement held by the state of Delaware and funded by the Delaware Open Space Council.