Category: Delaware Tribe

GNA Staff: Past and Present. Photo and caption by Erica Thompson, university photographer.

“These small preserved areas of our natural world are the symbols of our appreciation and concern for the heritage of Chester County, one of the truly beautiful areas in Eastern North America,” said Dr. William R. Overlease — a WCU professor from 1963-1986 — in his 1973 “Remarks for the Dedication of GNA for Environmental Studies.”

The weekend of Sept. 23, WCU celebrated the Gordon Natural Area’s (GNA) 50th anniversary, which highlighted the efforts made to protect the forest land. The natural area was dedicated in 1971 to a science faculty member at WCU, Professor Robert Gordon, and was established as protected land. 

The GNA is approximately 126 acres worth of land, located on West Chester University’s south campus. This area serves as a refuge for native plants and local wildlife, as well as an area for people to enjoy nature.

In 1970, before the land was established as protected land, it was subject to proposed development of student housing by university administration. 

In an article written in Quad Angles in 1971, Terry Cohen expressed concerns about GNA’s land. “The 200 acres, known as a ‘climax forest,’ is one of the only plots of land of its type in Chester County, supporting an eco-system containing a wide variety of plants and animals,” Cohen wrote.

This build was halted by two undergraduate students, David Fluri and Brad Gottfried. A movement was started by Fluri and Gottfried for the University to recognize how valuable the GNA land was for scientific studies. 

Cohen mentions Fluri in his article, stating, “Fluri said that the swampland could not compare with what they have now; there wouldn’t be as many types of plants or animals to study.”

Fluri proposed an…

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Indianz.Com > News > Native America Calling: The hit-and-miss progress of tribal cannabis sales All Episodes on Spotify | More Options

Native America Calling: The hit-and-miss progress of tribal cannabis sales

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The hit-and-miss progress of tribal cannabis sales

Citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians overwhelmingly voted in favor of allowing recreational cannabis use on the tribe’s reservation in North Carolina. If approved by the tribal council, the Qualla Boundary could be positioned as the only location for legal marijuana sales in the southeastern United States. Supporters say it is necessary to diversify a tribal economy heavily dependent on gaming. But they’ll have to persevere against opposition including some tribal officials and at least one North Carolina congressman who proposes withholding public funds from tribes that utilize their sovereign right to sell cannabis. A sign welcomes people to the home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. Photo by Sogospelman

Guests on Native America Calling

Forrest Parker (member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), general manager for Qualla Enterprises, LLC Mary Jane Oatman (Nez Perce and Delaware Tribe descendant), founder of the Indigenous Cannabis Coalition & THC Magazine and the executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Tom Rodgers (Blackfeet), founder of Carlyle Consulting and the Global Indigenous Council, an advocacy organization focusing on Native American issues

Native America Calling

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Alternate Links: Native Voice One | NAC

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On Saturday, September 23, West Chester University celebrated 50 years of forest preservation with a “forest fest” commemorating the dedication of the Robert B. Gordon Natural Area (GNA). Rain could not dampen spirits as University and community members came together in Sykes Student Union Ballrooms to learn more about the area that students and faculty enjoy as a living laboratory.

WCU Anthropology Professor Heather Wholey and WCU President Christopher Fiorentino talk with Chief Brad Kills Crow and Jeremy Johnson, both from the Delaware Tribe of Indians, at the GNA 50th Anniversary. (Photo courtesy of WCU)

Key to the celebration were several members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, now based in Oklahoma, who consulted on the Lenape language displayed on new signage WCU will erect in the GNA. In addition to delivering greetings, Jeremy Johnson of the Delaware Tribe of Indians invited those present to join in a celebratory dance.

Of West Chester University’s 406 acres, more than 126 acres is a preserved forest and open space on South Campus used for environmental studies, reflection, and recreation: the Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies (GNA). On the heels of the first Earth Day in 1970, the GNA was protected from development in 1971 and officially dedicated in 1973. It has been since designated a Wild Plant Sanctuary by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Robert B. Gordon was a respected professor of biology who taught at the institution from 1938 until 1964. He was a specialist on the natural vegetation of the northeastern United States.

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Image via West Chester University.

Of West Chester University’s 406 acres, more than 126 acres is a preserved forest and open space on South Campus used for environmental studies, reflection, and recreation: the Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies (GNA). On the heels of the first Earth Day in 1970, the GNA was protected from development in 1971 and officially dedicated in 1973. It has been since designated a Wild Plant Sanctuary by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GNA’s dedication, the university will host a free “Forest Fest” on Saturday, Sept. 23 with tours and activities suitable for all ages. It will take place rain or shine from 1 to 4 PM in R Lot below Farrell Stadium on South New Street. Parking will be in Q Lot, from which people can take a short path leading to R Lot.

WCU Biology Professor Jessica Schedlbauer, who chairs the committee organizing Forest Fest, said, “Those of us who work in and care for the Gordon Natural Area are very excited about bringing the campus and community together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its dedication.” Hikes, demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and takeaways are on the schedule.

Those planning to attend are asked to bring a reusable water bottle to help minimize waste.

Exhibits and music from campus radio station WCUR will open the event at 1 PM. At 1:45 PM, Chief Brad Kills Crow and Mr. Jeremy Johnson, members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, will invite those present to join a traditional participatory dance. Now based in Oklahoma, the Delaware are among the…

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WEST CHESTER, PA — Of West Chester University’s 406 acres, more than 126 acres is a preserved forest and open space on South Campus used for environmental studies, reflection, and recreation: the Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies (GNA). On the heels of the first Earth Day in 1970, the GNA was protected from development in 1971 and officially dedicated in 1973. It has been since designated a Wild Plant Sanctuary by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GNA’s dedication, the University will host a free “Forest Fest” on Saturday, September 23 with tours and activities suitable for all ages. It will take place rain or shine from 1 to 4 p.m. in R Lot below Farrell Stadium on South New Street. Parking will be in Q Lot, from which people can take a short path leading to R Lot.

WCU Biology Professor Jessica Schedlbauer, who chairs the committee organizing Forest Fest, says, “Those of us who work in and care for the Gordon Natural Area are very excited about bringing the campus and community together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its dedication.” Hikes, demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and takeaways are on the schedule.

Those planning to attend are asked to bring a reusable water bottle to help minimize waste.

Exhibits and music from campus radio station WCUR will open the event at 1 p.m. At 1:45 p.m., Chief Brad Kills Crow and Mr. Jeremy Johnson, members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, will invite those present to join a traditional participatory dance. Now based in Oklahoma, the Delaware are among the original peoples of the mid-Atlantic area.

WCU President Christopher Fiorentino will address the gathering at 2 p.m. Live music from the Mill Race Collective, a string quartet, will…

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For the exhibition “Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories,” now on view at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pa., Ahchipaptunhe created large-scale, monochrome abstract pieces based on the patterns of Lenape pottery fragments and woven baskets seen in the same gallery. Some of them date to the third century,

Borrowed from the New Jersey State Museum, the objects under glass have patterns that are echoed in Ahchipaptunhe’s paintings. The pottery was carved with hash marks; the baskets have a checkerboard weave stamped with graphics. The Lenape artisans likely used carved potatoes dipped in ink to stamp their baskets. Lenape craftspeople produced woven baskets stamped with geometric and natural patterns beginning in the 1700s to trade with European settlers.(Emma Lee/WHYY)

Ahchipaptunhe admits he has no idea what the patterns or graphics mean, if they represent anything literal at all. He is more interested in thinking about how his ancestors made things.

“Is there a story behind these forms? That’s something that I won’t ever be able to pull out,” he said. “But having this simpler conversation about form and design is important to me. As an abstract artist, I love that. It puts me in the driver’s seat to have a direct conversation with the viewer.” This pipe tomahawk made in the late 18th to early 19th century was likely intended to be presented during a treaty…

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Image via Michener Art Museum.

The art museum in Doylestown is showing the artwork of the Native Americans who once lived in the area.

An art museum in Doylestown is telling the story of the area’s Native American inhabitants through an immersive gallery.

The Michener Art Museum, located at 138 S Pine Street, began its latest art exhibit on Sept. 9. “Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories” delves into the long history of the Lenni Lenape, a Native American tribe that was once the main inhabitants of what is now Bucks County.

The exhibition features recent and newly commissioned work by Ahchipaptunhe (Delaware Tribe of Indians and Cherokee), Joe Baker (Delaware Tribe of Indians), Holly Wilson (Delaware Nation and Cherokee), and Nathan Young (Delaware Tribe of Indians, Pawnee, and Kiowa). The works, new and old, tell the story of the original inhabitants of the area.

“Through a focus on Lenape art and culture and a critical examination of historical visualizations of Native and European–American relationships, Never Broken demonstrates the ways in which art can create, challenge, and rewrite history.”

The exhibit will run until Jan. 14 of next year.

Learn more about the new exhibit and the Lenni Lenape at the Michener Art Museum.

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Wayne National Forest, that lush green gem nestled in the heart of Appalachian Ohio, might be in for a bit of a makeover. A potential name change has got folks talking.

So, here’s the deal: Wayne National Forest got its name from General Anthony Wayne, a big-shot hero from the American Revolutionary War. But General Wayne’s legacy isn’t all parades and fireworks. His military achievements come with a side of controversy, particularly when it comes to his dealings with Native American communities during his campaigns.

Wayne was a significant figure in American history, but also a problematic one. He played a big part in various Revolutionary War battles, like the Battle of Brandywine in Philadelphia and the Battle of Monmouth.

But there’s more to General Wayne than his military prowess. His victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers near present-day Maumee, Ohio paved the way for the Treaty of Greenville. That treaty saw tribes agree to give up most of what would become Ohio and parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan to American colonists.

The general was known as “Mad Anthony”. And he made good on that name by burning down indigenous towns and crops on his way to British Fort Miami.

Folks who are pushing for this name change have a point. They say it’s high time we looked at our history through a different lens. By giving the forest a name that’s more in tune with its natural wonders and a nod to its Indigenous roots, we can show that we care about history, people, and the environment all at once.

Today, roughly 40 tribes have ancestral ties to Ohio. With the conversation around renaming…

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The University Park Undergraduate Association voted by majority to support the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Penn State’s calendar and a land acknowledgement statement being put in the university syllabi.

Penn State’s campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern and Oklahoma), Susquehannock and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations.

“Omitting Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a recognized holiday on the Pennsylvania State University Holiday Calendar means that these students are being omitted from the Penn State Community, as well,” according to the resolution.

The UPUA resolution asked the university registrar to recognize Oct. 9, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The resolution also asked the Faculty Senate to include the land acknowledgement in the university’s syllabi and excuse students from missed classes due to cultural and religious days and events, including Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Three members of the executive board of the Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association brought this issue to the attention of the UPUA and spoke at Wednesday’s meeting.

“This is just the beginning, we have so much more to fix and add on to this,” Kayla Cwalina, a member of the Lakota nation, said.

Cwalina, a third-year studying criminology and education in rehabilitation and human services, said the resolution is “a step in the right direction” to get “some sort of semblance of our nations, heritage, and culture back.”

Adriana Peterson, a member of the Navajo and Menominee nations, said the university should do what it can.

“All you can do is reconcile and, going forward, figure out how you are going to fix this problem that you have created,” Peterson, a second-year studying media studies, said.

Timothy Benally, a member of the Navajo nation, said Indigenous People are still here and highlighted the importance of the land acknowledgement statement.

“It shouldn’t…

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Delaware, the First State in the Union, may be small in size, but it has been home to a notable array of individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to seven famous Delawareans who have left an indelible mark in areas ranging from politics and sports to entertainment and literature.

Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, has strong ties to Delaware, where he served as a U.S. Senator for 36 years. His presidency marks a historic moment in American politics.

Elena Delle Donne, a professional basketball player, was born in Wilmington. Her accolades include WNBA MVP awards, Olympic gold medals, and a reputation as one of the league’s top players.

Aubrey Plaza, the versatile actress and comedian, hails from Wilmington. Her deadpan humor and acting talents have made her a standout in both film and television, with roles in “Parks and Recreation” and “Ingrid Goes West.”

Howard Pyle, an influential illustrator and author, lived in Wilmington and founded the Brandywine School of art. His work had a significant impact on American illustration and storytelling.

Valerie Bertinelli, a well-known actress and television personality, was born in Wilmington. Her career includes roles in popular TV shows like “One Day at a Time” and “Hot in Cleveland.”

George Thorogood, the renowned blues-rock musician, was born in Wilmington. He and his band, The Destroyers, are known for hits like “Bad to the Bone” and have a dedicated fan base.

The Delaware Tribe of Indians, an indigenous people with a rich history in Delaware, has made significant contributions to preserving their heritage and culture. They continue to have a presence in the state and the broader Native American community.

These seven famous Delawareans represent the state’s diverse contributions to politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts….

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