Turkeytimes June 2011A
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NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE VOL #52 JUNE 2011 Turkey Times He’ All My Relations, at Delaware State University (DSU) in honor of The Confederation of Sovereign Nentego-Lenape DSU’s commitment to providing educational Tribes is a clear indication the Indigenous Peoples of the opportunities for our citizens during a time of Delaware Bay region speak with one voice. I am now educational prohibition for Indian people. On May happy to announce the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Sussex 1st we celebrated the Lenape culture as guest of the County, Delaware has officially joined the Confederation. Camden Historical Society during their ‘Spring Confederation member Tribes are the Lenape Indian Festivities’. Tribe of Delaware, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indian We have many challenges during this difficult Tribe of New Jersey and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe. economic period. The chore of Tribal leaders is to This is a historic time for all three Tribal communities and I transform these challenges into opportunities, to commend the efforts of the Tribal leadership and their review the ways in which we do things and to look supporters who embrace the mission of the Confederation. for additional resources that will allow our Tribal Let us celebrate the renewed strength of the ‘Circle of Our government to continue to offer services and Communities’. programs. Your support during these critical times is As we move from the ‘Season of the New Beginnings’ welcomed and very encouraging. Becoming an to the’ Season of Growth and Nurturing’ (Summer Soltice), enrolled citizen is the first step. Our Citizenship we remember our Mothers and Grand-Mothers for it is they Committee is committed to assisting all Elders who who have guided our actions. They who have cared and wish to apply for citizenship status. Becoming a part sacrificed. We honor the maternal qualities during this of history is as simple as enrolling as a Tribal Citizen. Season. If you have any questions about this process, please In April we celebrated with our Swedish friends at Fort do not hesitate to contact me at 302-730-4601. Christina in preparation for the 2013 commemoration of the 375 year anniversary of the friendship between the Swedish Wani’shi ta, th colonists and the Lenape. On April 28 the Lenape Indian Chief Dennis J. Coker Tribe of Delaware celebrated the ‘We Are Still Here’ theme *** Breaking News!!! Dover, DE --- Members of the Lenape Indian Tribe of Kent County Delaware and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe in Sussex County joined together at Legislative Hall in Dover on June 29, 2011 when the State of Delaware’s 146th House of Representatives and Senate passed House Concurrent Resolution No. 25 Recognizing November 2011 as Native American Heritage Month in Delaware. Chief Dennis J Coker of the Lenape Indian Tribe of Kent County and Chief Tom Robbins of the Nanticoke Indians of Sussex County were pleased to speak on behalf of the historical and present day ancestors of Lenape and Nanticoke Indians still Chief Coker Addressing the House of Representatives surviving in Kent and Sussex County, Delaware. P.O. Box 79 Cheswold, Delaware 19936 302.730.4601 LenapeIndianTribeOfDelaware.com 1 NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE VOL #52 JUNE 2011 Citizenship Committee Ways and Means Committee Commentary: ‘The End of the Story’ Carla Coker, Chairperson Theo Braunskill, Chairperson THANK YOU goes to all the contributors and I sit here today at the New Jersey Pow Wow watching participants in our Annual yard sale. It was a great and the Elders dance and seeing in their faces the seriousness successful day. We had a variety of household and sports of what this event represents. I can see how proud they are items to offer as well as a plant sale. The profits of the to be a part of this family. I am watching the children and plant sale went to the funding of our Youth Summer how happy and innocent they are. Neither the Elders nor Camp. the children have any idea that their family security is in After having every intention to hold a Basket Bingo jeopardy because so many of our relatives have refused to the beginning of June, we just did not get the support we secure their future. needed for a summer event. We will try again in the Fall. You were born Lenape, a gift from your forefathers. Flyers will be sent out in time to reserve tickets for the You also were provided the right to be a Lenape Citizen of bingo. In the mean time, we are going to participate in your Tribe. By not being a citizen of your Tribe, your the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Company’s Quarter family name and your future family are not being Auction to be held on Friday, July 15th. The doors will represented. If your family is not represented, you are open at 6:00 p.m. with the Auction starting at 7:00 p.m. risking the chance of your family being on the “Ended We will be auctioning some of the baskets from our List.” cancelled bingo and also selling Longaberger products What could be gone in a few years? Looking at the at our table. Mention that you are a guest of either children, very few understand the culture, the Indian way. Minnie or Carla when you purchase your paddle for the Are even fewer proud of their heritage at all? The Elders Auction and we will get the money from the sell of those are going to pass away and there will be just a few paddles. Any money we make at the Auction will go qualified to step up to the plate to keep the legacy and the toward the support of our Tribal events. Please plan to culture going forth. Don’t join the “Ended List”. attend. We need the support of our citizens if we are We, each of us, are responsible for preserving the going to be successful. future and the families and the culture of the Lenape Tribe. Our Highway Clean-Up was done and Mother Earth A call to action; do something; become a Lenape gave us a beautiful day to do the job. Thanks again to Citizen. To help you fill out your application, please call those who participated! the office at 302-730-4601. We also do house visits. Basket raffle tickets will be on sale in the near future. The drawing will be held at the Fall Gathering. The Ways and Means committee is forever looking “There are no breakthroughs without for fundraising ideas, so if you have ideas that you can hard work and sacrifice. Discoveries share, please give us a call. come only from the edge”. We depend on all of our citizens to attend the Leandis, Mexico meetings; join in our activities and our Gathering; giving your children the experiences of our youth programs and hopefully reinstating our Senior luncheons and lastly Tribal Community Services supporting our fundraising events. Senior Medicare Patrol: Let us help you better understand and assist with any problems you may have with Medicare and Medicaid. We have resource information for our Elders to try and make life a little bit easier. For caregivers, please be reminded our services can help with questions you might have. Give us a call, we’ll be happy to help. Senior Legal Aid: Help on the way with Senior Legal Assistance. Wills; powers-of-attorney (limited or durable); advance health-care directives; guardianship; housing issues; protection from abuse and other family law matters. Please contact Dennis Coker at 302-730-4601 regarding these programs. 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE VOL #52 JUNE 2011 Text of the Concurrent Resolution Passed by the House and Senate on June 29, 2011 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 146 TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25 RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 2011 AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN DELAWARE Sponsors: Rep. Dan Short, Rep. Lincoln Willis , Rep. William Carson, Rep. John Atkins, Sen. George Bunting and Sen. Tom Lawson WHEREAS, the state of Delaware joins with the nation in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans; and, WHEREAS, the 2010 United States Census demographic profile states that 4,500 American I ndian or Alaska Natives reside in the state of Delaware; and, WHEREAS, Delaware is the ancient home to the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware, headquartered in Kent County, and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe, headquartered in Sussex County; and, WHEREAS, both of these interrelated, historically well documented, self -governing Tribal communities of Lenape and Nanticoke people have continued in their homeland from ancient times to the present; and, WHEREAS, both the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe have been historically acknowledged as indigenous tribes in state laws, in the actions of the state legislature and state agencies, and were clearly defined with State Designated Tribal Areas in the 2010 United States Census; and, WHEREAS, t he Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe continue to preserve and promote their culture and carry on the rich traditions of their heritage as an ever present living legacy in our region; NOW, THEREFORE: BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 146 th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that we honor and celebrate the heritage of all Native Americans residing in the State. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives and Senate recognize and affirm the immeasurable contributions to the State and the country from Delaware’s two historically acknowledged tribes of Native Americans: the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware and the Nanticoke Indian Tribe.