HOW THE STARS ALIGNED 333 ACRES PROTECTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SIX NATIONS IROQUOIS CULTURAL CENTER

Dave Fadden’s Mohawk name, Kanietakeron, means “patches of snow.” He was born in March and his maternal grandmother thought it fitting to reflect the Akwesasne landscape during that time of year. Dave is an artist and storyteller, and he directs the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center in Onchiota. Through a land protection partnership in this northern part of the Adirondacks, where the forests have a distinctly boreal feel, our stories are now intertwined. The way Dave tells it is that the “stars aligned” in multiple ways. First, the pandemic inspired a new vision for the center when it closed in 2020 for the first time in its history. After operating as a family business since Dave’s grandfather, Ray Tehanetorens Fadden, established it in 1954, the center became a nonprofit to further its educational goals. With more than 3,000 artifacts in their collection and a steady increase in visitors, they needed more space than the current site could accommodate.

Two chance encounters would soon make the dream of a new facility and a suitable new site less daunting. One was being introduced to Ray Kinoshita Mann, an architect and wife of Charles Mann, author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. (Charles met Dave while on an assignment for National Geographic.) Ray Mann drew up pro bono renderings that preserve the current 80-by-20-foot building, modeled after a traditional longhouse, within a new facility.

The other was learning about the Adirondack Land Trust through Mary Thill, a staffer who visited the center in fall 2021. Dave and Mary got to talking about a nearby 333-acre property for sale. That led the land trust to first evaluate the land’s conservation values using a variety of criteria. The forested wetlands, adjacency to Forest Preserve, and climate resilience characteristics made it a priority, as did the prospect of working with a new nonprofit partner.

In August 2022, the land trust purchased the land for its appraised value of $207,500 and transferred it to the cultural center in October 2022 for $103,750. The lower sales price reflects the value of the conservation easement that will protect the land in perpetuity. The new center and its amenities will occupy 30 acres while the surrounding forests will remain undeveloped, giving the center space to incorporate traditional Haudenosaunee land uses and stewardship practices into its educational programming.

In Dave’s telling, he compares our respective organizational goals to the two row wampum belt that recognizes parallel paths and mutual respect. “The center and the land trust share a common belief and philosophy with regards to preservation, conservation, and stewardship of land,” he says.

“The Haudenosaunee, of which the Mohawks are one of six nations, have a notion of looking forward to the seventh generation ahead when thinking about how the decisions and actions we make today impact those who will come after us.”

That’s what land conservation is all about. We are honored to work together to incorporate and respect Native values to conserve the natural integrity of this property, and we have much to learn along the way.

Olivia Dwyer joined the staff in February as Communications Specialist. Her appreciation for wild lands and waters began with the many treks of her Adirondack childhood. She earned a BS in natural resources from Cornell University, then worked as a journalist focused on outdoor recreation, public lands, environmental issues, and the social concerns of North America’s mountain communities.

Maya Fuller, a Syracuse University junior hailing from Buffalo, has been selected as this year’s Intern for the Future of the Adirondacks. A sociology and geography double major, with a minor in environment and society, they will advance key projects, including integrating access and diversity into all facets of our work, as well as event planning and recruitment with our Next Gen Council.

Staff

Mike Carr, Executive Director

Joe Scrimenti moved to the Adirondacks from Pennsylvania in December to join the staff as Office Administrator. He has worked in stewardship, interpretation, and education roles at Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Yosemite Conservancy, Asbury Woods Nature Center in Pennsylvania, and 350 Vermont. He was introduced to the Adirondacks while obtaining a BS in environmental studies from the University of Vermont.

Kimberly Corwin-Gray, Associate Director of Philanthropy

Olivia Dwyer, Communications Specialist

Becca Halter, Stewardship & GIS Specialist

Chris Jage, Conservation Program Director

Connie Prickett, Director of Communications

Derek Rogers, Stewardship Manager

Susie Runyon, Finance & Operations Manager

Joe Scrimenti, Office Administrator

Megan Stevenson, Land Protection Manager

Mary Thill, Grants Manager

Aaron Thomas, Farmland & Stewardship Specialist

Nancy Van Wie, Director of Philanthropy

Kathy Woughter, Philanthropy & Outreach Coordinator

WHY GIVE?

When you invest in the Adirondack Land Trust, you invest in clean water, local food, beautiful views, and places for people to enjoy nature.

Please visit our website, or scan this QR code with your phone, to learn how to give via credit card, appreciated stock, or IRA distribution, and find out about our business and community partner program.

Business and Community Partners Shout Out! We are proud to work with these businesses and community partners for a healthy environment, healthy communities, and healthy people: The Bookstore Plus, Dak Bar, Divinely Sue, Spirit Sanctuary, Zone 3 Photography.

Connect With Us This Spring And Summer

Activities are free of charge, participants must register in advance through our website. We hope to see you soon!

Volunteer Workday

Coon Mountain Preserve, Westport

Friday, May 5, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Roll up your sleeves for a half-day to help replace split rail fencing near the kiosk or assist with invasive species control through tarp installation and hand pulling. If time permits, hike the 0.7-mile trail to the summit to enjoy views that may include migrating raptors this time of year.

MOTHER’S DAY WILDFLOWER HIKE

Coon Mountain Preserve, Westport

Sunday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Coon Mountain is bursting with wildflowers around Mother’s Day. A naturalist will lead a group—all wildflower admirers welcome—on this moderate 1.4-mile round trip summit hike, including a steep and rocky section, with stops along the way to enjoy the woodland flora.

Bird Walk

Asgaard Farm & Dairy, Au Sable Forks

Saturday, May 20, 8 to 11 a.m.

Join Adirondack Land Trust Stewardship Manager Derek Rogers and farm owner David Brunner on a bird walk during the heart of spring migration. In addition to being on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, Asgaard’s open fields, edges, forest, and wetlands host a variety of bird species. Derek volunteers as the Adirondack region review coordinator for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird program and editor for NYS Ornithological Association journal The Kingbird.

Annual

MEETING — SAVE THE DATE!

Uihlein Farm, Lake Placid

Saturday, August 12

Join us for a program featuring keynote speaker Elizabeth (Betsy) Folwell, an editor and creative director of Adirondack Life from 1989 to 2020 as well as an entrepreneur, author, and civic leader. The gathering will include optional field trips and in-person connections.

Event details will be shared by mail and posted on our website.

To sign up or learn more about our field trips or events, please visit adirondacklandtrust.org/events.