Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe of New Jersey

PO Box 544 * 18 East Commerce Street * Bridgeton, NJ 08302

Phone: 856-455-6910     Fax: 856-455-5338

www.nanticoke-lenape.org

Dear Friends:

Remarkable and amazing is the only way I can describe September’s meeting.  It was clear that we all were in a very strange state of mind.  As I looked over the community and listened, many were addressing the same concerns.  How can we salvage who we are from what has been exploited and pillaged by those who are proclaiming to be our people and/or authorities on Lenape.  The main thing I heard at this meeting was “now is the time”.  If we think about it, the promises we made to our elders many years ago have not been kept.  However, some of the answers were revealed from the people, to the Council.

Originally, we were forced to stay together for fear of being removed, killed or humiliated. Entire families were forced away because of these situations. In fact, unfortunately, some situations are not indifferent.  The disheartening fact is that I lost two cousins, in my generation, just for dating “the wrong girl”.   However, we have entire communities who parted in the past that is once again contacting our tribal center looking for acceptance.  Isn’t God wonderful!

We are fortunate to be surrounded by those who have our tribe in their heart.  Amy and Blair express the remarkable fact to us that we are the only people that have not left our homeland in 10,000 years.  I bet you have never thought of us in that light, but it is a magnificent fact.  Research discloses the mere fact that the only thing that is really missing is the people who remained and were left behind.  We are still here, we have kept our land! “Wow, 10,000 years”, think about it!

We are in the midst of other organizational tribes, not indigenous to our homeland, and yet they have seized each and every opportunity to establish their existence in our backyard.    We must now reclaim our birthright of 10,000 years.  As we sought a way of identifying our land, this territory, many at the meeting became highly enthused.  Tyrese called me this morning with ideas, this information and a possible answer.  “Grandfather Land” or “Land of the Grandfathers” however stated or translated.

Meditate and think about this; this is how we know our tribal family.  We identify through fears, faults, desires, when to help, when to watch, accomplishments, rivalries, when to interfere and by all means when not to.  We have remained together by families, spiritually, culturally, packs, codes and tribal laws written and unwritten.

Our families have celebrated and survived for 10,000 years, truly amazing!   NOW is the time that we proactively insure the next 10,000 years.

Sincerely yours,

Mark Quiet Hawk Gould