Category: Delaware Tribe

What is the history of the indigenous people in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania, a state rich in history and culture, has a long and complex history with its indigenous peoples. Before European settlers arrived, the region was home to numerous Native American tribes, each with their own unique cultures, languages, and traditions. Today, the descendants of these tribes continue to contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Pennsylvania’s diverse population.

The Pre-European Era:
Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century, Pennsylvania was inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Lenape (also known as the Delaware), Susquehannock, Shawnee, and Iroquois Confederacy. These tribes lived off the land, hunting, fishing, and cultivating crops such as corn, beans, and squash. They had complex social structures and engaged in trade and diplomacy with neighboring tribes.

The Arrival of Europeans:
In the early 1600s, European explorers, including Dutch and Swedish settlers, began to establish trading posts and colonies in the region. This marked the beginning of significant changes for the indigenous peoples of Pennsylvania. As European settlement expanded, conflicts arose over land and resources, leading to the displacement and marginalization of Native American communities.

The Impact of Colonization:
The arrival of English settlers in the late 17th century further intensified tensions between Native Americans and Europeans. The infamous Walking Purchase of 1737, in which the Lenape were deceived into ceding a large portion of their ancestral lands, dealt a severe blow to the indigenous population. Subsequent wars and treaties further eroded Native American sovereignty and land rights.

FAQ:

Q: What happened to the indigenous peoples of Pennsylvania?
A: The indigenous peoples of Pennsylvania faced displacement, marginalization, and loss of their ancestral lands due to European colonization.

Q: Are there any Native American tribes still present in Pennsylvania today?
A: Yes, there are several federally recognized tribes in Pennsylvania, including the Delaware…

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Details By Levi Rickert November 18, 2023

NEW ORLEANS — On the last days of its e 80th Annual Convention & Marketplace, the  National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) swore in the newly elected 2023-2025 NCAI Executive Committee.The organization’s Executive Committee is comprised of four Executive Board Officers and Regional Vice Presidents and Alternates from each of the 12 NCAI regions.

Newly elected NCAI President Mark Macarro, Chairman of Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, expressed a message of unity and healing on the horizon for Indian Country.

‘‘I am deeply humbled and pleased to have been chosen by the National Congress of American Indians to lead this esteemed organization over the next two years,” said President Mark Macarro. “The next two years will undoubtedly present challenges, but together, we are ready for the journey ahead. I dedicate myself not only to the tribal leaders and delegates of NCAI, but to all of Indian Country, and I look forward to what we can achieve together.”

President Mark Macarro is joined by newly elected NCAI First Vice President Brian Weeden, who also serves as the Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. 

Nickolaus D. Lewis, Lummi Nation councilmember, was elected to the position of Recording Secretary.

“Serving on the NCAI Executive Board as Recording Secretary is a position dedicated to serving all of Indian Country, and I am humbled with the opportunity to be a servant for all of our people in this role,” said Recording Secretary Lewis. “There is a lot of work ahead, and it starts with working to earn our people’s trust. It will take time, but the commitment to be held accountable is going to always be there. Please know that I am committed to this work for uplifting all of our peoples and our…

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NEW ORLEANS — On the last days of its e 80th Annual Convention & Marketplace, the  National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) swore in the newly elected 2023-2025 NCAI Executive Committee.The organization’s Executive Committee is comprised of four Executive Board Officers and Regional Vice Presidents and Alternates from each of the 12 NCAI regions.

Newly elected NCAI President Mark Macarro, Chairman of Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, expressed a message of unity and healing on the horizon for Indian Country.

‘‘I am deeply humbled and pleased to have been chosen by the National Congress of American Indians to lead this esteemed organization over the next two years,” said President Mark Macarro. “The next two years will undoubtedly present challenges, but together, we are ready for the journey ahead. I dedicate myself not only to the tribal leaders and delegates of NCAI, but to all of Indian Country, and I look forward to what we can achieve together.”

President Mark Macarro is joined by newly elected NCAI First Vice President Brian Weeden, who also serves as the Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.

Nickolaus D. Lewis, Lummi Nation councilmember, was elected to the position of Recording Secretary.

“Serving on the NCAI Executive Board as Recording Secretary is a position dedicated to serving all of Indian Country, and I am humbled with the opportunity to be a servant for all of our people in this role,” said Recording Secretary Lewis. “There is a lot of work ahead, and it starts with working to earn our people’s trust. It will take time, but the commitment to be held accountable is going to always be there. Please know that I am committed to this work for uplifting all of our peoples and our future generations.”

David Woerz, Chickasaw Nation Legislator, was elected to the position of NCAI Treasurer by acclamation.

“I am…

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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at St. John’s chapter.

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse culture, traditions, and histories of Native American tribes and acknowledges the significant contributions they have made to society. This month also serves as an opportunity to raise awareness of the indigenous populations residing in the United States and the obstacles they have endured in the past and still face today. Celebrating this inspiring and insightful month pushes Americans to become more educated and knowledgeable about their nation’s history. 

Most are aware that the first people in the Americas were not European. When the Dutch arrived in the 17th century (present-day New York City), they encountered an indigenous tribe, known as the Lenape. According to historical records, the Lenape were described as mostly amicable. This made it easier for the Dutch to “purchase” the land from them. “As the myth goes, the Dutch even ‘purchased’ Manahatta island from the Lenape in 1626. The transaction, enforced by the eventual building of a wall around New Amsterdam, marked the very beginning of the Lenape’s forced mass migration out of their homeland.” The Lenape helped shape the geography of modern-day New York City. The wall eventually became what we now know as, Wall Street, and Manahatta became the borough of Manhattan. Also, the Lenape trade route, known as Wickquasgeck, then became Brede weg, and then eventually what we now know as Broadway. Unfortunately, any other trace of the tribe has vanished from the city. 

It’s unfortunate that many of the citizens who live in New York City are unaware of the history of their home. Today, two memorials in New York City acknowledge the Lenape, and both contain historical inaccuracies. A monument in Battery Park…

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There is growing concern within Oklahoma’s Native American community that citizens will face fines for their tribal tags after a recent uptick of enforcement of rules regarding taxes and license plates.

The Delaware Tribe of Indians, which is headquartered in Bartlesville, issued a statement Friday saying that their tribal tags should be valid. Chief Brad KillsCrow says Delaware Tribal tags are issued through the Cherokee Nation and covered by the compact. KillsCrow says if any Delaware Tribal member gets pulled over by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and issued a ticket for having a tribal tag, they should immediately contact his office.

Letter to Delaware Tribal members from Chief Brad KillsCrow

Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear told Osage News his office has not received any communication from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office or OHP about a change in policy on tribal tags. Standing Bear says if Osage Nation elected officials come to a consensus that the tribe needs to enter into a new compact with the state, he will work on that quickly.

Currently, the state of Oklahoma only has tribal tag compacts with the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.

Our partners at News On 6 and News 9 reached out to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt this morning and received a statement from his team:

“This is addressing a significant public safety issue that puts law enforcement and others at risk. If tribal governments won’t share vehicle registration information with DPS, we can’t keep our officers and our streets safe. Members of tribes with valid compacts that provide needed car registration information will not be ticketed. Oklahoma Highway Patrol is simply enforcing the law and following U.S. Supreme Court precedent.”

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Appearing on COMMUNITY CONNECTION, Jeremy Johnson, Cultural Education Director with Delaware Tribe of Indians, said he name by which the tribe calls itself is Lenape [pronounced as if spelled “lun-NAH-pay”], and this name means something like “The People.” It is common for many groups of people around the world to use a name that has a similar translation. Johnson said, “We do not know how long that name has been in use, but related tribes use similar words, so we think it has been in use for many hundreds of years.”

In the short time we shared with Jeremy on the show, we learned a lot. Jeremy said,”It has long been known that the name applied to the Native people who lived along the Delaware River was taken from the title of an Englishman, Lord de la Warr, whose name was Sir Thomas West. He was appointed governor of the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia in 1610. One of his followers, Captain Samuel Argall, once sailed into a majestic bay which he named “de la Warr Bay” in honor of the governor. The river that flowed into the bay was given the same name, and they both were later contracted into Delaware.”

Jeremy said that the tribe has lost a number of things on their forced trek west to Oklahoma. He said, “Many old traditional ways included making things, such as clay pots to cook and store food in; flint knapping to make arrowheads and flint knives; and decorating things with dyed porcupine quills. We also lost knowledge of sea creatures that we would have known on the east coast, and some of our songs and dances. But we have also been able to preserve many things also.”

…

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The Native American Studies Program at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences hosted the Peace Tree Ceremony Monday, along with and a forum that started Monday and continues today with Native leaders.

The events highlight Native Nations’ ancestral, cultural and historical connections to the land now known as West Virginia.

The Native American Studies Program at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will host events on October 9 and 10 that will highlight Native Nations’ ancestral, cultural and historical connections to the land now known as West Virginia.

The annual Peace Tree Ceremony was held in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. WVU’s Peace Tree is between Martin and E. Moore halls on WVU’s downtown campus.

The Peace Tree, per Haudenosaunee (Iroquoian) oral history passed down for hundreds of years, centers on the Creator sending the Peacemaker to unite the warring Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk nations. He planted the original white pine Tree of Peace at Onondaga to symbolize these Five Nations forming the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. With the addition of the Tuscarora, it is now the Six Nations.

WVU’s first peace tree was planted on campus in 1992 by Chief Leon Shenandoah, Tadodaho of the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. This year, Tadodaho Sidney Hill presided. Other guests of honor included Haudenosaunee Faithkeeper Oren Lyons, Delaware Nation President Deborah Dotson, Delaware Tribe of Indians Chief Brad KillsCrow, Shawnee Tribe Chief Ben Barnes, Eastern Shawnee Tribe Chief Glenna Wallace and Cherokee Nation history and preservation officer Catherine Foreman Gray.

The Peace Tree Ceremony included traditional Native music by singer John Block (Seneca Nation) and flute player Boe Nakakakena Harris (Turtle Mountain Chippewa). Wendy Perrone, executive director of Three Rivers Avian Center in Hinton, presented Regis, a bald eagle, symbolizing the eagle sentry the Peacemaker placed atop…

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People gathered on Old Main lawn on Monday afternoon to celebrate and recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Flags representing different tribal nations waved on the lawn just below the steps of Old Main, where speakers and performers stood to celebrate.

Tim Benally opened the rally with a speech which included a land acknowledgement.

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.

“We mark a historical occasion where we recognize the legacy and contributions of Indigenous peoples from around the country,” Benally, a graduate student studying recreation, parks and tourism management, said. “The very structures that once sought to erase us still persist in today’s educational systems.”

“I’ve been grateful for the opportunities that its presented, but it’s also a poignant reminder that I,” Benally said, “like most of you, are visitors to this land, and we are missing its original stewards.”

Several speakers talked about the importance of this day to the community, including Al George, a Cayuga faith keeper in the Allegany Seneca territory.

“Native Americans all over Turtle Island have a customary responsibility to give thanks to their creator for all the things that he provided us, sustain us in our lives and keep us happy as we walk this earth,” George said.

Akwesasne Women Singers, Las Cafeteras and the Jake George family performed music and traditional dances.

Errol Wizda, an assistant program director with the Millennium Scholars Program, was in attendance at the rally.

“I think this sort of thing is really important for the university (to acknowledge) everything that’s happening,” Wizda said. “I think it’s important for … advocacy to happen on campus.”

Erica Brown said “it was a really good opportunity.”

“It’s something I have never seen before, so…

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