United Native American Cultural Center, Inc. (U N A C C )
Company Profile:
The United Native American Cultural Center, Inc. (UNACC) was founded as a 501 (c) (3) organization in 1993. UNACC is a non-profit organization. Currently our funding is a result of donations from the public. We offer support to other Native American organizations in MA, CT, ME and Canada. We also support various charitable organizations within our community, both Native and Non-Native. UNACC offers programs to educate schools and various groups to teach about the Native Culture. If you would be interested in having UNACC come and speak to your group, please contact us. We do not charge a set fee for our presentaion but donations are greatly appreciated.
In 1990 Onkwe Tase (Ed Guilmette), WWII Army Veteran and respected Mohawk Elder, shared his vision of a multi-tribal cultural and veteran center with WWII Navy Veteran and Native American Elder, Lame Wolf (Noe Guerra).
Onkwe Tase then began the search for a home to what he appropriately titled 'The United Native American Cultural Center' (UNACC). With his knowledge of the Fort Deven's base closure, his advocacy of Native American rights, and the desire to preserve our culture and heritage, he chose a path. Onkwe Tase set out to receive over 1,000 support signatures from the surrounding town's selectmen and peoples that were to be affected by the base closure. His tireless efforts, combined with the relentless dedication of many Native Americans and the public support, kept UNACC earmarked for the P-5 building on the map of the Deven's Re-Use plan.
These passionate grass root efforts got us to the outside of the fort. We lacked business, legal and financial backing necessary to get in and play ball with the Federal, State and Defense Departments. This obstacle was met in early 1994 by yet another passionate & highly educated Native American Veteran, Michael Taylor. After quickly assessing the situation, he took us willing students through an incredible journey that solidified the UNACC by-laws and incorporation for our non-profit status. Mike met with government organizations and military officials, cut through the jungle of red-tape and produced an occupancy agreement for UNACC.
In another one of Mr. Taylor's suave business moves, the group relocated to the 2nd floor of P-5 and granted LandBanks Marketing Center a 1 year lease of the 1st floor. LandBanks beautifully renovated the 1st floor and donated the construction upgrades when they left as agreed in 1 year.
Once again, in the Fall of 2003, UNACC had to rise quickly to a new challenge of securing a permanent lease agreement with MassDevelopment, Deven's new owners. This large scale coup attempt was once again met by Michael's generosity and expertise providing UNACC with a solid legal and corporate foundation. We are humbled by the experience yet move forward confidently in welcoming members of the community to our permanent home at P-5, 29 Antietam Street, Devens, MA.
Throughout this entire process, the UNACC group volunteered selflessly and with good spirit to raise funds through Native American cultural programs to raise awareness and earn operating funds.
UNACC is the first volunteer multi-tribal organization to successfully obtain and continually maintain a registered historical building from the United States Government.
We continue our volunteer efforts in good spirit and we stand proud in honor of our US military veterans and our Native American peoples. "Lest We Forget…"
UNACC Community Involvement
Our volunteer staff, board of directors, and members presents cultural programs at surrounding schools, scout groups, libraries and various organizations.
The communities we serve along with Devens are the surrounding towns including Ayer, Pepperell, Shirley, Leominster, Fitchburg, Groton, and Harvard and expand out from there. UNACC has done program collaboration over the years with Peabody Museum at Harvard University, the Peabody Museum of Archeology in Andover at the Phillips Academy, and the Parker Charter School of Devens. We collaborate on installations and hold yearly events at Fruitlands Museum of Harvard, MA and have enjoyed doing so since our incorporation in 1993.
UNACC Meeting Information
UNACC meets on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to attend the meetings. For more information on joining UNACC, please call us at the telephone number listed below.
Our Mission:
The Center's mission is to be a positive place for peoples of all cultures to gather, share and educate one another. Essential to this endeavor is a program of cultural enrichment, education and whole life strategies for Native American people; a place to learn and teach our crafts, artwork, voices and traditional ways. We welcome the entire community to share in the various programs and cultural experiences which we offer.
A word from Michael Taylor UNACC CEO
Freedom is many things, but not free. We are truly blessed to be Americans living in the greatest country on earth, but let’s not be complacent or static. We must continue moving the virtues of freedom forward for other nations to share. Let every American rise up, take the hand of their fellow citizen and continue moving forward. We must continue the march of freedom together, so our children and grand-children will have the opportunity to live in the same freedom we have been given by the brave men and women that provided it for us.
Let us all be proud to serve our country – It’s great to be an American.
Michael Taylor, Cherokee Nation, UNACC CEO
UNACC Contact Information
Telephone: (978) 772-1306
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 711 Ayer, MA 01432
Physical Address:
29 Antietam Street - Building P-5 Devens, MA Directions
