Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative

Revitalizing Kutiikiitowaakanun: Our Nanticoke Language

Written on:

SPECIAL ONLINE FREE PRESENTATION FOR NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH on Thursday, November 14, at 7:00PM

Friend known to Salem Quarter and PYM First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative, Pastor J.R. Norwood will be interviewing Nanticoke anthropologist Dr. Karelle Hall about Revitalizing the Nanticoke Language. The Zoom program is free, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Register at: https://forms.office.com/r/pRc8UcG78V

Karelle Hall has received a PhD in anthropology from Rutgers University.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in
Anthropology with a minor in Native American Studies. As a member of
the Nanticoke Indian Tribe, she has represented her nation at numerous
events as both a speaker and dancer. She is actively working on
Nanticoke language revitalization with the Nanticoke Tribe, including
organizing and creating lesson plans for community classes. Using her
experience and connections in the legal field, she assisted the Nanticoke
tribe with ratifying their recognition in the state of Delaware. She
continues to work as an activist and representative for her community,
promoting visibility, decolonization, and education.

Update From the Listening and Lobbying Sprint of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Written on:

Authorship of this update is attributed to the Jeanne Elberfield and the Listening and Lobbying Sprint of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. 

Friends, I am writing this update with much optimism in my heart and mind. The Listening and Lobbying Sprint is working diligently towards a draft policy and guidance addressing political lobbying for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Over the past few months, we have learned from a nonprofit expert and PYM’s lawyer about the IRS definitions and limitations on lobbying for a 501(c)(3). We have had regular conversations about how this information helps us to find a solution that mutually satisfies Friends who are led to political advocacy, the PYM Quaker community with diverse leadings and ministries, and the PYM as a 501(c)(3). We continue to ask Spirit to guide our hearts and minds as we navigate our way forward. [Read more…] about Update From the Listening and Lobbying Sprint of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Salem Quarter IAC Minute of Unity Refuting the 1626 Schagen Letter

Written on:

We stand in support of Lenape leaders refuting Pieter Schaghen’s 1626 letter to the Dutch West India Company, which mentions a supposed purchase of the Island of Manhattan, approximately 22,000 acres, in a trade for goods contemporarily valued around $24. We find this alleged purchase to be myth-based and causative of historical and ongoing harm. Thus, we stand in unity with Chief Urie Ridgeway (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, Bridgeton NJ), Chief Dwaine Perry (Ramapough Lenape, Mahway NJ), and Brent Stonefish (Munsee-Delaware, Ontario CA).
Our discernment, grounded in experiences and respect for the Lenape People, acknowledges that they have their own systems of rules, laws, and ways of living beyond spirituality; their lifeways govern Lenape society with a deep cultural stewardship of Mother Earth, making the concept of owning land inconceivable. Furthermore, the Lenape are a matriarchal society where matters of importance are overseen by women. However, Schaghen’s letter lacks any evidence of a matriarchal voice, an oral treaty, a wampum belt, a written treaty, or signatories, all of which were customary cultural practices of the time.
Today, the Dutch West India Company is recognized as a trade company which included the slave trade. These enslavers established a feudal system in Lenapehoking, granting land to colonists who brought 50 individuals to this land, thereby marginalizing Lenape voices, creating myths about the original people of this land, and commodifying the land, Mother Earth.
Early contact with Western European diseases is estimated to have reduced the Lenape population by 90-95 percent. Despite surviving massacres, forced removals from Lenapehoking, restrictions on cultural lifeways, forced assimilation, and the removal of children to Indian Boarding Schools and child welfare systems, the Lenape Nations endure and are still here.
Therefore, Salem Quarter (NJ) finds The Schaghen Letter to be a tenacious untruth that has contributed to subsequent historical and ongoing contemporary myth-based harms endured by the original people of Lenapehoking and widespread practices that continue to impact Indigenous People of Turtle Island, as well as other colonized lands. We hear the Lenape leadership, both those who have been removed and those who have remained, seeking inclusion and equity.
To this measure, we, Salem Quarter (NJ) Religious Society of Friends, seek the following, with accountability:
• Recognition of the diverse gifts of Spirit within all creation.
• Relationship building with the original inhabitants of this land, Lenapehoking.
• Harmony, living and honoring all life by stewarding Lenapehoking.
• Mutually beneficial decision-making with Lenape Nations.
• Restoration with and for Lenape Nations/People on whose homeland we benefit.
Presented by the Indian Affairs Committee to Salem Quarter, 9th day Sixth Mo. 2024, Lower Alloways Creek Meetinghouse; accepted and approved by Salem Quarterly Meeting 9th day Sixth Mo. 2024

IAC’s Backstory:
After reading The Schaghen Letter, we queried: From whose point of view was this letter written; to understand this event more completely, what information is needed; how does this account shape what we understand about the land exchange that took place on Manhattan in 1626? We further read Lenapehoking: The Tenacious Myth of the Purchase of Manhattan and we reflected on personal conversations with Chief Urie “Fox Sparrow” Ridgeway (Nanticoke-Lenape) about their Lenape constituency trip to Amsterdam, Autumn 2023.
We stand in support of Lenape leaders refuting Pieter Schagen’s 1626 letter to the Dutch West India Company, which mentions a supposed purchase of the Island of Manhattan, approximately 22,000 acres, in a trade for goods contemporarily valued around $24. We find this alleged purchase to be myth-based and causative of historical and ongoing harm. Thus, we stand in unity with Chief Urie Ridgeway (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, Bridgeton NJ), Chief Dwaine Perry (Ramapough Lenape, Mahway NJ), and Brent Stonefish (Munsee-Delaware, Ontario CA).

First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative: Healing and Story-telling on Federal Indian Boarding Schools

Written on:

First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative is seeking Friends’ truths. We are looking for those truths that work toward healing and involve humbly examining and sharing our stories.
[Read more…] about First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative: Healing and Story-telling on Federal Indian Boarding Schools

I’m Not Your Mascot

Written on:

There are schools using racial mascots of Native Nations Peoples within our PhYM community(ies). From the National Congress of American Indians we hear, “Rather than honoring Native peoples, these caricatures and stereotypes are harmful, perpetuate negative stereotypes of America’s first peoples, and contribute to a disregard for the personhood of Native peoples…. [Read more…] about I’m Not Your Mascot

Promised Land

Written on:

On Friday, November 2, 2018, members of the First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative (FCRC) attended the screening/ panel discussion of Promised Land, hosted by the National Museum of the American Indians, D.C., and sponsored by the National Congress of American Indians and Alliance of Colonial Era Tribes.

Promised Land “is a social justice documentary that follows two tribes in the Pacific Northwest as they fight for the restoration of treaty rights that have been denied,” as told by members of the Duwamish and Chinook Tribal Nations. Viewers heard stories and saw cultural features of these Peoples, lending to the depth of their indigenous identity, and witnessed the push-back against these indigenous communities, undermining self-determination.

Following the screening, a panel of these tribal members, filmmakers, and sponsors discussed the relevance of the film and entertained questions. We were reminded that the first step in being an “ally” of indigenous peoples is to listen; listen to their leadership.

Pastor JR Norwood (Nanticoke-Lenape, seated with NCAI and ACET) introduced us to the filmmaker team, Vasant and Sarah Salcedo – directors, writers, cinematographers, editor, and producer. We noted, that aside from geographic distance, the story is one that mirrors many tribal nations throughout the country, including those of “early contact” with W. Europeans/ colonization along the east coast, such as Pastor Norwood’s Tribal Nation in southern jersey.

The PhYM FCRC web page “Structural Resources” – https://www.pym.org/first-contact-reconciliation-collaborative/structural-resources/ – contains links to several local tribal nations, where Friends may learn of needs and, with respect, listen to indigenous leadership; listen to tribal nations’ “righteous fight(s).” The FCRC web presence hosts our contact information; we are available to walk-the-walk with Friends at various entry points.

Promised Land

Written on:

Love and labour within Salem Quarter was released into our wider religious Society of Friends with  PYM’s First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative. During the kick-off workshop at Annual Sessions 2017, participants leaned in toward understanding Tribal Sovereignty. Recently, following the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) convention in Denver, outreach was initiated by “extended family,” Rev. Dr. JR Norwood (Nanticoke-Lenape), co-chair for NCAI’s task force on federal recognition, to tribal allies, the SQ Indian Affairs Committee. Pastor Norwood brings to Friends’ attention the Nov. 2nd screening of PROMISED LAND, hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in conjunction with the NCAI and the Alliance of Colonial Era Tribes (ACET.) The documentary is an award-winning social justice documentary that follows two tribes as they fight for the restoration of treaty rights they’ve long been denied. In following their story, the film examines a larger problem in the way that the government and society still looks at tribal sovereignty. Pastor Norwood will be part of a post screening panel discussion at NCAI; details are posted on the PYM calendar. Coming First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative events will continue to help shed light on denials of tribal sovereignty, human rights, and social justice. The FCRC website offers a variety of “growing edge” opportunities; we are open to hearing how we might further serve Friends.

Kwel’ Hoy: We Draw The Line!

Written on:

On April 24 at the Watershed Institute in Pennington, NJ, Friends joined a gathering of over 75 in support of clean water and the environment.  Led by tribal elders, scientists, children, and museum representatives, the occasion was the opening ceremony for the “Kwel’ Hoy: We Draw the Line” traveling exhibition which is to remain at the Institute until the end of August.  Chief Perry of the Ramapough Lenape Nation, which has opposed the Pilgrim Pipeline, led with history, blessings and the beginning of a stone altar.  Elder Doug James of the Lummi Nation from the Pacific Northwest led in the unveiling of a massive carved totem pole.  Young children were excited to remove the cloth from the totem pole and wonder at its appearance.  Elder James told stories of the components of the totem pole.  On top is a carving which can be imagined in the full moon, of a person with two feathers in prayer.  The next segment represents people of various skin tones. Bear, who was too greedy and almost wiped out the salmon, is represented in another segment. Freddie Lane, also of the Lummi, recommended the YouTube video “The Earth is Alive”, a message from the Coast Salish People. Many scientists, in white coats, lined up in solidarity with water protectors in opposing the Penn East pipeline.  A scientist from Princeton added to the concern for clean water, stating that we must recognize that all pipelines leak, methane is a greenhouse gas, and that construction of these pipelines locks us into fossil fuel use.
Chief Perry led in the construction of a stone altar to which the participants each added a stone, with each stone representing a personal prayer for the protection of water.  The event continued indoors where numerous videos of contemporary fossil fuel related struggles were showing.  The Lummi totem journey has been credited with defeating a major coal port. More information and pictures are available at www.thewatershed.org and WeDrawTheLineExhibit.com.

Indian Committee Fiscal Year Report ’16-’17

Written on:

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. – Dakota

Indian Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting 

Report for October 2016 through September 2017

During the Fiscal Year 2016-17 fifteen individuals were active as Members and Attenders at ten meetings held during the year. On average nine people attended each meeting. We were greatly saddened by the sudden loss of one of our long-term members, Amanda Ivory, in July 2016. [Read more…] about Indian Committee Fiscal Year Report ’16-’17

Tribal Nations Update

Written on:

Six Virginia Tribal Nations – the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Upper Mattaponi, Rappahannock, Nansemond and Monacan – just secured Federal Recognition, having chosen “to seek recognition through Congress rather than the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgment.” For over twenty years Tribal leadership and legislators (along with members of the BYM IAC) labored to secure this government-to-government acknowledgement that opens opportunities that include education, repatriation, and health care. Now too, the work of FCNL is applicable to 573 Federally Recognized Tribal Nations. Let’s continue the conversation of sovereignty! Contact the First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative and/ or go to PYM Connect – Addressing Racism forum. (pictured: Tribal Leadership and VA Legislators)

An original post by Michael Martz appeared in the Jan 29, 2018 Richmond Times-Dispatch.

 

 

 

Update your contact & Meeting information at pym.org/updates

© 2024 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting · Privacy Policy