Category: Delaware Tribe

The statue depicting a likeness of Chief Tamanend, the Lenape leader who signed a peace treaty with William Penn, is pedestaled at a gaping I-95 entrance ramp in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Motorists zip by the statue at Front and Market Streets without a glance as they cruise out of town. Pedestrians risk oncomingtraffic just to get a glimpse of the bronze figure.

But a proposal to move the statue to a place of prominence to a new Tamanend Square being planned as part of a revamp of Market Street in Old City appears stalled as at least one federally designated tribe objects.

The objection by the tribe takes on new relevance in light of the recent dustup involving now-scrapped plans to move the statue of William Penn from Welcome Park, which is located a few blocks away and part of Independence National Historical Park. The National Park Service is proposing to rehabilitate Welcome Park and include Native American history.

» READ MORE: William Penn statue will not be removed from Welcome Park, says National Park Service in sudden reversal

‘Tired of moving’

“After 300-plus years of forced removal, it just seems as if it’s just another metaphoric forced removal from an area of our own land,” said Jeremy Johnson, cultural education director of the federally recognizedDelaware Tribe of Indians in Bartlesville, Okla.

The tribe viewed treaties and land sales that the Lenape signed with European colonists more like leases, unaware that land was something to be bought or sold. Eventually, the Lenape had no land left and moved west, eventually settling in Oklahoma.

“We’re tired of moving,” Johnson said. “We’ve been told multiple times in our history that we’re in the way of progress.”

The statue, by Raymond Sandoval and erected in 1995,depicts Tamanend standing on a…

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Caesar’s Ford Theatre based in the Miami Valley is holding a webinar series on the significance of American Indian historical interpretation.

The nonprofit theater company’s mission is to tell historically accurate stories with actors who are citizens of federally recognized tribes. This series is meant to raise awareness of the work the theater wants to create, which are more drama productions.

The series kicked off earlier this month.

It featured American Indian speakers based out of Oklahoma sharing their experiences with historical interpretation.

One of the speakers, Levi Randoll, is chairman for the Delaware Tribe’s Cultural Preservation Committee. Here is how he defined historical interpretation.

“It’s important for real Native American folks to come out and help teach our own cultures and share that with you, so that you get a better, cleaner perspective of what the actual history of this country is,” Randoll said.

Jake Tiger is a cultural specialist with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. He said historical interpretation can show up in multiple formats, but he pays particular attention to the attire he wears during programming.

“When people see an American Indian wearing the clothing of that time period, it pulls them in and gets them really interested. With that kind of approach, it’s like someone from that time period set up a time machine and told you what happened,” he explained. “It’s super important not only to have the right information, but have the right person to do it.” 

Randoll emphasizes the importance of someone from a federally recognized tribe must also be the one to portray tribal histories. He said, in his experience, this doe happen on the East Coast frequently. This is because many tribal communities Native to land along the Eastern U.S. were forcibly removed to the West between 1830 and 1850.

“Non-Native people, in my opinion, [are also] people from non-federally…

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Pennsylvania to change state’s name? Team Biden to remove William Penn statue – World Tribune: U.S. Politics and Culture, Geostrategy, China, North Korea, Corporate Watch, Media Watch li,.mainnav > li,.subnav > li,.mainnav > li’).hover( function () { $(‘ul’, this).stop().slideDown(250); }, function () { $(‘ul’, this).stop().slideUp(250); } ); $(‘[data-toggle=”tooltip”]’).tooltip({ ‘placement’: ‘top’ }); $(‘.sidebar-wrapper, .post-wrapper’) .theiaStickySidebar({ additionalMarginTop: 30, additionalMarginBottom: 30 }); /* InnerPage Slider */ var innerslider = $(“.carousel-gallery”); innerslider.owlCarousel({ autoPlay: 999999, pagination:true, singleItem : true, autoHeight : true, mouseDrag: false, touchDrag: false }); $(“.carousel-gallery-next”).click(function(){ innerslider.trigger(‘owl.next’); }); $(“.carousel-gallery-prev”).click(function(){ innerslider.trigger(‘owl.prev’); }); /* InnerPage Slider */ var owl4 = $(“.carousel-four”); owl4.owlCarousel({ autoPlay: 999999, pagination:true, singleItem : true, autoHeight : true, mouseDrag: false, touchDrag: false }); $(“.carousel-four-next”).click(function(){ owl4.trigger(‘owl.next’); }); $(“.carousel-four-prev”).click(function(){ owl4.trigger(‘owl.prev’); }); // Responsive Menu (TinyNav) $(“.responsive_menu”).tinyNav({ active: ‘current_page_item’, // Set the “active” class for default menu label: ” }); $(“.tinynav”).selectbox(); $(‘a[href=”#top”]’).click(function(){ $(‘html, body’).animate({scrollTop:0}, ‘slow’); return false; }); }); })(jQuery); ]]> Continue reading

The National Park Service announced they will be removing a statue of William Penn from a Philadelphia park commemorating his founding of Pennsylvania, situated at his former home.

The “rehabilitation” proposal for Welcome Park is meant to “provide a more welcoming, accurate, and inclusive experience for visitors,” NPS said in a news release. It “includes expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia,” and was developed in collaboration with representatives from the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

The park is named for the ship, Welcome, which Penn took to Philadelphia in 1682. The park was established 300 years later.

The call for public feedback on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has already resulted in more than 500 comments.

FLORIDA DEMOCRAT MAYOR SLAMMED OVER CONFEDERATE MONUMENT REMOVAL: ‘BLATANT OVERREACH’

Welcome Park is dedicated to William Penn. This photo is from March 24, 2012.

“Leave the statue right where it is,” one user wrote in response to Independence National Historical Park’s tweet.

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“My input is defund and disband the national park service,” another wrote.

CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY TO BE REMOVED DESPITE GOP OPPOSITION

Philadelphia’s skyline at night

Comments can be officially submitted to NPS from Jan. 8 through Jan. 21 through Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) at https://parkplanning.nps.gov.

“Comments submitted through social media, phone calls, email or mail will not be accepted,” NPS said in the release.

William Penn (1644-1718) accepts a belt from Tamanend (1628-1698), chief of the Lenni-Lenape, as part…

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William Penn may have founded the state of Pennsylvania but the iconic historic figure could soon find himself canceled by the leftist cultural revolution that has wormed its way into the highest corridors of government.

In a move that would be expected from totalitarian religious zealots like ISIS or the Taliban, President Joe Biden’s National Park Service plans to remove Penn’s statue from Philadelphia’s Welcome Park, a site that has become very unwelcoming to white “colonizers” like Penn under radical Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

The agency will be seeking input on the “rehabilitation” of Welcome Park, another of the authoritarian left’s Orwellian terms that mask its extremism, in this case, the ongoing cultural cleansing of the nation’s identity.

We need your input on Welcome Park rehabilitation! More info at: https://t.co/owkb3jxBIV pic.twitter.com/nh092m4S5W

— IndependenceNPS (@INDEPENDENCENHP) January 5, 2024

“The proposed rehabilitation of Welcome Park includes an expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia and was developed in consultation with representatives of the indigenous nations of the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.,” the NPS announced in a Friday statement.

“The reimagined Welcome Park maintains certain aspects of the original design such as the street grid, the rivers and the east wall while adding a new planted buffer on three sides, and a ceremonial gathering space with circular benches. The Penn statue and Slate Roof house model will be removed and not reinstalled. In a separate and future effort, new exhibit panels will be installed on the south side wall to replace the Penn timeline,” the federal agency added.

X users reacted to the ongoing left-wing jihad against America’s history and the men who made the country great.

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The continued erasure of America’s historic statues continues under President Joe Biden. Late last year, a statue dedicated to reconciliation between the northern and southern states was removed from Arlington National Cemetery after a brief hold was placed on the removal by a judge.

Now, it’s the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, who is being cancelled.

The Penn statue that sits atop his historic home site will be removed from the property, according to the U.S. Park Service. In its place, more memorials to American Indians will be installed.

Penn was a Quaker who came to America to avoid religious persecution in England. By most accounts, he was a stellar advocate for democracy, justice, and fairness to indigenous people.

“The National Park Service proposes to rehabilitate Welcome Park to provide a more welcoming, accurate, and inclusive experience for visitors. Welcome Park was designed by the internationally acclaimed design firm Venturi & Scott Brown Associates. The park is located on the site of William Penn’s home, the Slate Roof House, and is named for the ship, Welcome, which transported Penn to Philadelphia. The design and construction of Welcome Park was funded by the Independence Historical Trust and was completed in 1982,” the Park Service said.

The proposed “rehabilitation” of Welcome Park includes “expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia and was developed in consultation with representatives of the indigenous nations of the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma,” according to the agency.

“The reimagined Welcome Park maintains certain aspects of the original design such as the street grid, the rivers and the east wall while adding a new planted buffer on three sides, and a ceremonial gathering space with…

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We have been discussing the removal of statues nationwide from cities and colleges. The National Park Service is now receiving fire over a plan to remove the statue of William Penn from a Philadelphia park commemorating his founding of Pennsylvania. The park is near his former home. The Biden Administration is explaining that removing Penn from a park in Pennsylvania will “provide a more welcoming, accurate, and inclusive experience for visitors.” Nothing says Sylvania like a Penn-free park.

The park was built by the Friends of Independence National Historical Park in 1982 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Philadelphia with the arrival of Penn’s ship, Welcome.

In August 1682, Penn took 100 passengers and 36 crew members on a harrowing voyage from Deal, England to Pennsylvania. It took roughly 58 days in this crowded ship that was only 120 feet in length and 24 feet wide. The 100 passengers were mostly part of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, from Sussex, England.

The NPS announced that it wants to remove the statue as part of an “expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia” being developed in collaboration with representatives from the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

The NPS site soliciting suggestions appears to rule out the retention of the statue as one of those options: “The Penn statue and Slate Roof house model will be removed and not reinstalled.”

I personally think that including contextual elements on the Native American tribes is a good idea. That can be achieved without the removal of the Penn statue and hopefully the NPS can still be convinced to opt for a design that still retains the focus…

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Plans to remove a statue of William Penn from Welcome Park in Old City are no longer part of the U.S. National Park Service plans to reimagine the space.

“Independence National Historical Park has withdrawn the review of a draft proposal to rehabilitate Welcome Park and closed the public comment period,” the parks service posted on its website late Monday. The statement also said the draft proposal was “released prematurely and had not been subject to a complete internal agency review.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was in contact with the Biden administration throughout the day “to correct this decision,” in a post on social media. “I’m pleased Welcome Park will remain the rightful home of this William Penn statue — right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Penn founded.”

When it comes to historic locations operated by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) in Philadelphia, Welcome Park is not on the top of most tourists’ lists. 

While nearly 2.7 million people visited Independence National Historic Park in 2022, most of those visits focused around Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Although only a few blocks away, Welcome Park, at 2nd and Walnut streets, gets much less attention. 

Opened in 1982, the park’s open plaza design reflects Penn’s original grid plans for the streets of Philadelphia, according to The Cultural Landscape Foundation. The park is named after the ship “Welcome,” which Penn arrived on when he first came to Philadelphia.

That lack of attention changed this week, as the NPS originally announced plans for upgrades at the park to fix “deteriorating” conditions and better live up to its namesake and be more, well, welcoming.

Among the initially proposed changes: new benches, exhibit panels, and a ceremonial gathering space — but also the removal of…

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The National Park Service has withdrawn a proposal to permanently remove a statue of William Penn as part of its rehabilitation of Welcome Park in Old City, saying the plan was “released prematurely and had not been subject to a complete internal agency review.”

The sudden reversal posted Monday evening came after a barrage of complaints, often spearheaded by Republicans. But high-profile Democrats such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also voiced concerns. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Shapiro wrote on Monday evening, “My team has been in contact with the Biden Administration throughout the day to correct this decision. I’m pleased Welcome Park will remain the rightful home of this William Penn statue.”

The National Park Service said Monday evening that no changes to the William Penn statue are now planned, but that plans to rehabilitate the park will continue.

“The National Park Service (NPS) remains committed to rehabilitating Welcome Park as the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026,” the statement said. “Upon completion of all the necessary internal reviews, the park looks forward to engaging in a robust public process to consider options for refurbishing the park in the coming years.”

It’s a sharp change from an announcement by NPS on Friday to remove the centerpiece statue of William Penn permanently and redesign the park to highlight Native American history. That plan marked a major shift, considering that the park was built on the site of Penn’s home, the Slate Roof House, and is named for the ship, Welcome, that transported him from England. Penn actually landed first in 1682 near the intersection of the Delaware River and Chester Creek in Chester.

» READ MORE: William Penn once wanted Chester to be Philadelphia. Here’s what…

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William Penn Statue (6ABC Philly)

In its continued attempts to erase American history, the Biden administration was preparing to tear down a statue of William Penn in Philadelphia.

However, late Monday, the National Park Service reversed its decision to remove a famous statue of William Penn from Philadelphia’s Welcome Park. (Updated Story Here)

For those who may not know, Penn is the 17th-century English religious leader who founded both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

The Penn monument, which sits on the grounds of his 17th-century home, was set to demolished as part of a “rehabilitation” plan for the park that honors his contribution to U.S. history.

Read: Florida Rep. Steube Keeps Pushing To End Fed-Funded Research On Animals, Even Overseas

Penn’s “rehabilitation” by the Biden administration would have dispatched him to the dustbin of history while retelling his story from the perspective of Native Americans.

The National Park Service explained the project in a press release issued late Friday afternoon:

“The proposed rehabilitation of Welcome Park includes expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia and was developed in consultation with representatives of the indigenous nations of the Haudenosaunee, the Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, the Shawnee Tribe, and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma,” the release said.

“The reimagined Welcome Park maintains certain aspects of the original design such as the street grid, the rivers and the east wall while adding a new planted buffer on three sides, and a ceremonial gathering space with circular benches.”

“The Penn statue and Slate Roof house model will be removed and not reinstalled,” the NPS added. “In a…

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