LATEST NEWS!

LNPA PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING CIRCULATION OF MISINFORMATION

Lenape Nation of PA occupies new Cultural Center!
GRAND OPENING JULY 11, 2010

Fulfilling a Prophesy: The Past and Present of the Lenape in Pennsylvania Exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has been extended for another year! Until August 2, 2011

Shelley DePaul, Director of the Language Program for the Lenape Nation of PA, and Lenape Language Instructor at Swarthmore College, receives NEH Fellowship Award

Ms. DePaul's Lenape Language Project, is listed under the category of Documenting Endangered Languages, and extends for a 12 month term. The funding will support research, development of a variety of language resources, and Lenape language revitalization efforts.

The fellowship program is one of the most competitive funded by the NEH, with grants going to one in 10 applicants, according to NEH spokesman Jim Turner. "It's definitely a great honor to get an NEH fellowship."

The National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency in Washington, D.C., annually offers Fellowships, which provide financial support for faculty and independent scholars who wish to pursue scholarly research projects in the humanities.

Projects entail advanced research that is of value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. The awards support six to twelve months of full-time work and carry a stipend of $4,200 per month.

Recipients usually produce articles, monographs, books, digital materials, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, and other scholarly tools.

Representatives From Lenape Communities Meet at Swarthmore College for Second Lenape Language Conference

Conference Agenda

2010 Rising Nation River Journey Update: March 7, 2010

The Lenape Nation of Pennsylvannia now has a Cultural Center and Office in the historic Bachmann House in Easton Pa.  The building was recently purchased from the city by the Northampton County Historical Society, who has given the Lenape Nation unlimited access to the building for Councils, meetings, ceremonies, and other activities.  The Nation office and Cultural Center is located on the second floor.  The Nation will set up a library for research and an audio visual display.  There will also be an artifact display and trading post as well as cultural and educational programming.  The Cultural center will open officially this summer in conjunction with the opening of the permanent Lenape exhibit in the new NCHGS Museum.  The Lenape Nation is co-curating the exhibit, which will be essentially an extension of the Cultural Center.  Continue to check our website for updates and program schedule.

Environmental Issues and Concerns

OTHER NEWS

Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, attends Lenape Culture Program at Penn.
The Children's workshop was led by Shelley DePaul and Mayor Nutter read the
"Rainbow Crow" story to an audience of approximately 200 children in attendance.

MORE PHOTOS ON FLICKR

Delaware River Greenway Partnership holds formal naming ceremony for Tinicum/Nockamixon hub of the Pennsylvania Highlands.

Shelley DePaul Named New Assistant Chief

LINGUISTICS STUDENTS FIRST TO TAKE COLLEGE-LEVEL
CLASS IN PENNSYLVANIA'S INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE

Instructor: Shelley DePaul and Swarthmore students

LENAPE EXHIBIT AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Abigail Seldin, Shelley DePaul, Chief Bob Red Hawk

Exhibit Articles:

Indian Country Today

LENAPE HOST NATIVE LANGUAGES IN CRISIS CONFERENCE

LENAPE DISCUSSION FORUMS

Lenape_Family_History Forum
APPLY FOR NATION ENROLLMENT HERE
For years so much has been written about the Lenape Nation but very little has been recorded by the people themselves. The Lenape Family History Project is a way for you and your family's oral traditions to be added to these important archives. It is a way to record the culture and history of the Lenape, one story at a time - helping to weave a beautiful blanket of tradition. We encourage all Lenape descendants to join us. Pull up a log and tell the story of your family.

Lenape_Voices
LENAPE VOICES is a Pennsylvania based partnership consisting Native
Americans and Non-Native peoples. It is our purpose to spread cultural
awareness, initiate cultural unity, and increase understanding about
Native American issues and how those issues have influenced and continue
to influence society.

Lenapelanguage
This group has been formed for those who would like to learn to speak the Lenape Language.

LenapeLit
A forum in which Lenape people may share original compositions and literature, Lenape Stories, and Wisdom of the Elders.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE LENAPE NATION NEWSLETTER!

NATION MEMBERS: Subscription to the Lenape Nation of PA Newsletter is free for all enrolled members of the Nation. IF YOU ARE NOT AN ENROLLED LENAPE NATION MEMBER WITH A NATION CARD, OR A TREATY SIGNER PLEASE CONTACT ROBIN HOOSE (BELOW) TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

In order to eliminate mailing costs and to go as "green" as possible, the newsletter is only available in pdf format. It is posted on the Lenape Nation newsgroup each quarter. All previous issues can be accessed here as well. Click on the following link to register for the newsletter.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lenape_newsletter

NON-MEMBERS: The subscription fee for non-members is 25.00 per year. To subscribe to the Lenape Nation Newsletter, Please contact Robin Hoose: robin.hoose@villanova.edu

The Lenape Nation Newsletter is designed to keep members and friends to date on the latest news regarding the Nation and upcoming events...but it contains much more:

.....Unique articles on Lenape History relating the history of the people from the Lenape perspective and containing much information never before published regarding the Lenape in Pa.
.....Letter from the Chief in each issue.
..... Articles regarding our Sacred Sites.
..... Stories told by our Lenape Elders never published before...some with complete translation into the Lenape Language.
..... Medicinal Herbal Remedies with recipies and directions describing how the Natives used these plants to cure illness.
..... Lenape Geneology in the Pa region and tips for researching your ancestors.
..... Features of current Lenape Tribal members telling the stories of their lives and family history.
..... Wisdom of the Elders.
..... Remembrances of our veterans and Elders who have passed.
..... Recipies, word games, Lenape Language games, original Lenape poetry, birthday greetings.

Sample Newsletter click here

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The Lenape Nation Seeks State Recognition  

The Lenape wish to be recognized by the state of Pennsylvania as it's indigenous people so that our children and their descendents may take pride in their heritage. So that we may pratice our religion freely. So that Pennsylvania and those who come to visit Pennsylvania may take pride in us in return: In the cultural center, libraries, and archives we hope to build... in cultural and historical progams we conduct... in the goods, produced by our artists, musicians and craftspersons, that may be offered as "made by the Natives of Pennsylvania"... in the pow wows and other events we plan for them to attend... in the youth camps we will run for our children and all children... in the organic and Native gardening projects we will operate on our farm... in the knowledge that we hold Pennyslvania to be  our sacred homeland and that we have always been and will forever be its caretakers, engaged in numerous projects to provide practical ways for all citizens to respect and protect our homeland and the health, welfare and future  of the next seven generations of our children.  

It is true that the Walking Purchase was a shameful part of our history.  But we don't want to go backwards.  It is time to move into the future finally honoring the words and intentions of our Founding Fathers.  We do not believe in the possession of land. It cannot be bought and sold.  We are caretakers.  The land is in our souls as it has always been and no law can give or take it away.  THIS is what needs to be "recognized" by Pennsylvania.  There is room for all.  

For the Native, there is no separation between the land of the ancestors and the people themselves.
In the words of Chief Robert Red Hawk Ruth:

When the first people from Europe came here and met our people they wanted to find out how many people we had. They asked us how many people are there in your tribe. We didn't understand their question. We said the deer are part of our Nation as are the birds, trees, and hills. Even the stones beneath our feet are a part of our people. We can't give you a number. The Europeans just shook their heads and wondered at how they would ever come to a understanding of our people.  

It is time now for Pennsylvania to come to an understanding of our people, and to come to an understanding of all that the word "indigenous" means to us.   

During our many meetings with state representatives, we have been told that the issue is "too confusing".  This sort of rhetoric is negligent.  We are their constituents. We have identified ourselves as the indigenous people of Pennsylvania.   We can produce the bloodlines to prove this. Pennsylvania has the responsibility of researchng it's own history, taking pride in it and giving recognition to its own indigenous people.

THIS is the issue facing Pennsylvania.

As caretakers of our homeland, it would be inconsistent with our beliefs to use land in Pennsylvania for gambling purposes. We have always stood against gambling, have continually expressed this to the state representatives, and have drafted legislation which clearly renounces any intention or privilege to do so. There are other groups who vie for land to do this.  This is one reason that the Lenape Nation will not sit in Council with those groups as part of a "Blanket Policy" proposed by the state.  The goodness in our hearts and that which we wish to do for our culture, land and people would be eaten up with such a venture. This is not the legacy we would leave to our children. State recognition would help to provide us with the means to provide more constructive ways for our children to work and live. 

Throughout history the Lenape have been a peaceful group. We are the Lenape who welcomed the Europeans and taught them how to plant, cure their illnesses, and survive on and care for this land.  We wished then and wish now to live together with the people of Pennsylvania. Any person claiming to be Lenape who seeks to "own" or use land for purposes other than as caretakers or to spread our culture dishonors our culture and our ancestors.

  We are the Lenape of Pennsylvania, and we will continue to spread our culture and act as caretakers of our homeland.  We have concluded from meetings with state officials, that our State Representatives possess a lack of understanding of and concern for the indigenous people, and, therefore, the very history of Pennsylvania.  We shall continue to gain recognition from the people of this state, many of whom have shown much understanding and have provided much support, and from the many organizations who have partnered with us in the enrichment and protection of our mutual history, culture and environment.  

We invite citizens and political representatives to promote awareness of this issue, so that we may fulfill the dream envisioned by our founding fathers, William Penn and Chief Tamanend, put the fear, pain and humility of the past once and for all behind us, and walk together into the future."

- The Lenape Nation Council