History, care, and joy — a surprising mixture — were shared Monday at Shackamaxon, also known as Penn Treaty Park, on a gorgeous fall day during the eighth annual celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day there.
The event, put on by Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, Inc., honored the Lenape tribe and Indigenous communities originating or residing in the Northeast of the U.S.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day commemorates the history and legacy of native tribes within the U.S. The holiday is celebrated on what had previously been marked as Columbus Day, with the intent to decenter the perspective of European explorers like Christopher Columbus and other historical figures who sought to destroy Native cultures.
Before honoring other tribes, IPD Philly introduced visitors to the Lenape, or Delaware, tribe, whose ancestral lands span southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and southern New York.
Curtis Zunigha, co-director of the Lenape Center in New York, spoke to the audience about the relationship between the Lenape and Quaker settlers who arrived here initially, as well as the shift from peace to strife, and the colonists dubbing the Lenape as the Delaware tribe.
To recenter the joyous aspect of the day, Zunigha led the Bean Dance, a Lenape tradition that illustrates the growth of bean plants. Many children were happy to participate, and adults were welcome to join in.
Bart “Standing Elk” Cartwright is a member of the Lenape tribe and part of the Turtle Clan signifying the original people of the Philadelphia area. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Bart “Standing Elk” Cartwright was one of those adults. The self-employed Lenape carpenter believes that the event is a sign of progress, from focusing only on the narratives of settlers from the past to highlighting the survival of the tribes across the Americas.
During the performances and speeches, people…
Jacob Dolson, who gave…
