This small portion of New Jersey has become a refuge for Native Americans fighting for indigenous rights.

Members of more than a dozen Native American tribes from across the country rode horses and held tribal flags as they descended on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

The demonstration was the culmination of a 70-day walk, known as “Trail of truth”, which began in California and ended in the nation’s capital. The activists’ goal was to secure federal recognition and rights for all Indian tribes.

After riding and marching through the National Mall area, several members of the group were arrested by local police, who said the tribes He did not have permission to demonstrate.

Before arriving in Washington, the activists stopped in New Jersey. They rested at a newly established 63-acre refuge in Salem County dedicated to indigenous peoples, spiritual practices and traditions of Native Americans.

Located in the wooded area of ​​Quinton Township, east of the Delaware River, the Cohanzick Nature Reserve It was the homeland of the ancient Cohanzick Lenape people for thousands of years, leaders say.

The land was acquired last year by the Native American Advancement Corporation, a nonprofit conservation group, and has become a sanctuary for indigenous people, according to Tyrese Gould Jacinto, the group’s president.

“The Cohanzick Nature Reserve is more than just a piece of land,” said Jacinto, a member of the Nanticoke Lenape Nation. “It is a living testament to the enduring connection between indigenous people and the land.”

After gaining sole ownership of the land last year, the Native American Advancement Corporation had to obtain permission from the township planning board to use the property as a place of worship. After a contentious public meeting in May, the board unanimously granted the permit.

A long unpaved road on Gravely Hill Road leads to a pavilion where the organization holds cultural, educational and spiritual events. The area is surrounded by forests and has a small pond where some fish live.

One of the site’s goals is to champion environmental stewardship through sacred, centuries-old indigenous practices, according to Jacinto, who says his ancestors were born on the land.

On the morning of October 11, the sanctuary was busier than usual, with several “Trail of Truth” activists and about 15 horses using the site to rest before continuing their journey to Washington, DC.

Local indigenous people learned about the “Way of Truth” movement and came forward to offer the sanctuary as a refuge during their travels, Jacinto said.

Around 2 a.m., the group arrived in Salem County after more than two months of travel. They stopped in several states and had just completed their most recent rally in Times Square in New York City.

Jacinto was busy organizing, making sure there was food to cook and that laundry and showers were available for the group before heading to DC. This was the first time since they began their journey that protesters were able to sleep in an indoor shelter. Until reaching the Salem County site, they had been sleeping in cars and camping on Indian lands across the country.

At the front of the property, the horses also rested, were fed and cared for.

During each stop along the three-month journey, people of all ages from various tribes gathered to join the movement. Among them was a mother traveling with her baby, who had been part of the group since August. Reuben Washburn, a father of three and a member of the Lakota tribe of South Dakota, also traveled with them.

For Washburn, joining the “Way of Truth” meant tribal unity and fighting to be heard, like his ancestors.

“We’re all from different tribes, but we all pray the same,” Washburn said. “We have always had the urge to be heard because that is what our ancestors fought for. We are only alive because of them.”

A key goal of the campaign is to fight for federal recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone, who have lived in California’s Bay Area for more than 10,000 years, said Charlene Nijmeh, chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe and leader of the movement.

Federal recognition of Indian tribes means that the United States government recognizes them as “dependent national nations,” granting them federal benefits and protections. The Muwekma tribe has been fighting for recognition for 45 years, facing opposition from politicians and institutions, according to Nijmeh.

“This movement is really a fight for our very existence,” Nijmeh said while resting at the Cohanzick Longhouse Shrine. “We are determined to remain in our homeland. “We’re not going anywhere.”

While on native lands in New Jersey, the group held a prayer circle, rested, and prepared for their trip to Washington, DC. They were determined to make their voices heard and make an impact on October 14, when Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated. during this election year, stated the group’s leader.

“I do this because our ancestors did everything possible for us to be here today,” Nijmeh said. “And I need to do everything I can so that the next generation can stay in their homeland… and retain their identity.”