Oheki Mandukai (Turkey Mountain Project)

NDPonics
Photo: Swampdog
GRANT NAME:
Oheki Mandukai (Turkey Mountain Project)
GRANTEE:
NDPonics
LOCATION
Virginia
AMOUNT
$100,000
Year
2024

NDPonics is an indigenous-founded-and-led private non-profit foundation in Virginia, dedicated to purchasing, preserving, and restoring lands in the mountainous region of the Blue Ridge. Over the next two years, the organization will work to purchase and protect Oheki Mandukai (Turkey Mountain). Acquisition of this 60 acres will allow the group to conduct language and culture gatherings on this parcel. In addition to the religious sites on the peaks themselves, the creek which runs through the valley originates in this part of the valley & flows through the property as a wetland. NDPonics’ has, since 2019, purchased 932 acres including 15 sacred mountain peaks, over 3 miles of threatened eastern brook trout habitat, innumerable springs & vernal pools, 100 acres of threatened wetland, a lake, 2 ponds, & countless acres of field which, using traditional ecological knowledge, have been converted into highly valuable native grassland meadow.