63 acres of land have been returned to the Native American advancement Corporation the land once home to the ancient kohantzik Lenny Lenape tribe Melissa Rose Cooper caught up with the organization's president to discuss her plans for the land that once belonged to her ancestors right now we need to save water or we need to save soil we need to teach people how to do better gardening a mission to be more environmentally friendly Tais gultacinto is committed to make happen as president and CEO of the Native American advancement Corporation jacinto's goal is one step closer to reality the organization is in the works of converting this property in Salem County into an educational and environmental center this is uh open for any organization any school system anybody that wants to learn ways to save on air water soil and Alvar conservation methods but Jacinto also has a special connection with the land although it was once the site of a church years before it was a place of worship it was home to an ancient indigenous Native American tribe that are the ancestors of the Nancy Coke Lenny Lenape Nation a state recognized tribe that Jacinto was a member of we are a part of the Nancy tribal nation and the kohansic people which is the ancient name so we've been here since European incursion so it's our family property at one time all of this land was occupied by original inhabitants the first people that were here and as a colonial settlement occurred the land was acquired and bought up and occupied by Western um people and to have this land returned back to the people that were originally here is incredibly significant for me and I think for the whole Community Rob Farber is the Delaware Bay Watershed regional manager for the New Jersey conservation Foundation he says since most armed it has great ecological significance all of our land has been manipulated since we've been here since humans have been here we've we've accelerated that so the more development there is and the more area that we need to live and work the less area there is for natural habitats and so the habitats um you know that were here before we came you know had native plants a lot of times you know we have invasive species that come and and crowd out the native plants we have invasive species that come and don't provide proper nutrition for the the fauna that was here now the land will be used to help preserve ancient Traditions which has Central's Father Mark Gould is happy to see my mother was an herbalist and she could make potions and things to heal people I'd like to broadcast that out through our community so that other people know that there is a place to go to get healed and he says he's great for the property has been returned my ancestors actually came from here and for this offer to come to us like it did I never thought something like this would happen so I'm relishing it I'm able to spend my last days I hope I ain't going the worse yet but I'm able to spend my last days celebrating what we've done the center will offer various programs including Hands-On workshops where people can learn about how they can be more environmentally friendly donations are being accepted to assist with the organization's initiatives for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper [Music]