Lenape Nation - A Tribal Community

Shown at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelogy and Anthropology from September 13, 2008 - July 11, 2010, NOW MOVED TO THE LENAPE NATION OF PA CULTURAL CENTER, 2ND AND NORTHAMPTON STREETS, EASTON, PA

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.

Lenape_Family_History Forum

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.

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."