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Treaty Signing with the Lenape Nation

On August 12th, 2018,  Renee & I had the distinct honor

of signing a treaty with the Lenape Nation in a ceremony,

not far from the banks of the Delaware River, in Easton, Pennsylvania.

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Renee and I first learned of the Lenape in Sunset Park, Brooklyn New York.

 

In my mind's eye I can see the Lenape Native Americans gathering

on the high ground, that we today call Sunset Park,

to watch Henry Hudson's ship the Half-Moon glide silently into New York Bay.

It was a misty morning in early September. This was a good time of year

for the Lenape, the muggy heat of the summer had past and

some of their crops were ready for harvesting.

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When Henry Hudson sailed into New York Bay (the photo on the left is a modern replica of the Halfl-Moon) it wasn't the first time that such a ship had been seen.  

 

Lenape legend may have told of a ship with three tall poles holding white sails from eighty-three years earlier.  That was the La Dauphine navigated by Giovanni da Verrazzano.  

Every four years since 2002, members of the Lenape Nation have paddled down the Delaware and entered into treaty agreements with organizations along their route.  

The non-binding agreement calls upon those who sign to actively partner with the Lenape as caretakers of the traditional Lenape homeland and show respect for all life.

I made arrangements to sign

the Treaty on behalf of the

1855 One-Room School in

Eldred Township, in

Monroe County Pennsylvania.

With our connection to the Lenape in Sunset Park

we posted on the

Sunset Parker Facebook Page

an offer to the community

to also sign on in their name.

Within a few hours over 138 Sunset Parkers asked to have

their names included.

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It was agreed upon that Renee would sign the Treaty on behalf of the people of Sunset Park and I would sign on behalf of the 1855 One-Room School.

The photo above shows the Mayor of Easton being introduced at the ceremony.

He signed on behalf of his City.

Just a few hours earlier, the Lenape had arrived in boats that they paddled

down the Delaware and now they were in the Sigal Museum

hosting the Treaty ceremony.

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This is a copy of the Treaty.

As part of our commitment we will create a permanent exhibit, with advice and direction from the

Lenape Nation,  at the 1855 One-Room School.

 

And in Sunset Park we will work with others to create a curriculum that documents and shares the history of the Lenape.  The curriculum will be distributed to ten local schools. 

To "seal" the treaty, the Giordanos received a gift of wampum which will be part of the exhibit at the one-room school along with a copy of the treaty.

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174 Sunset Parkers who have

committed to the terms of the Treaty

Albee Y Juddy Sanchez
Alice Leesha
Alice Mead
Alicia Mercado Delgado
Amaya Collado
Ana Martinez
Angel Twin Estrada
Angelica Sevilla
Anthony Velazquez
Ariel Contreras Serrano
Art Cantú
Barbara Hullen
Barbie Reyes
Beth McLoughlin
Betzy Plaza
Bonnie Hussey
Brandi Concepcion
Brenda Aviles
Cait McDonagh
Carol Brown Preston
Christian J Sierra
Christine Blanks
Christopher Mercado
Claudia Lechuga
Clifford Moller
Constance Boyle
Cristina Ruiz Diaz
Crystal Rosario
David Doherty
Debbie Melendez
Deborah Mercado
Debra Ann
Denise Rivera
Diana Altamirano
Diane Mendez
Donna Boneta
Donna Duminski
Donna Conanan Huse
Dorothy Velazquez Rios
Ed Huml
Edy Radios
Eleana Medina
Elizabeth Shelton
Elizabeth Brewer Shannon
Elsie Muniz-Cusack
Elsie Ruiz
Ernesto M Sierra
Ernesto J Sierra
Evangelista Juddy Sanchez
Evelyn Delgado
Evette Perez-Vale
Francisco Cambero
Fred Quintana
Gail Hernandez
Gary Soto
Gavin Triggs
George Barreto
Gina Devonish-Morales
Gladys M. Toledo
Gladys Brown
Gloria Reyes de Diaz
Gloria Perez
Harry Arocho
Heather Chin
Hector Santiago
Helen Muscarella
Ian Scott Horst
Ira M. Kluger
Ivan Lopez
Ivan Ortiz-Diaz
Ivette Ackerley Rivera
Ivonne Torres
Janet Rosario
Janet Quintero
Jenica Gonzalez
Jennifer Canavan
Jeremy Diaz
Jessica Lynn Sierra
Jessie Hann
Joanne Valentino
John Olsen
Jordan M Sierra
Jose Oriol
Jose Petehb Alicea
Joseph Perretti
Joseph McLaughlin
Joseph Diaz
Joyce Lighari
Joycelin Perks
Juan Fernandez Cruz
Karen Karlsen
Karl S. Rutter
La Guera Av
Laura Lucchesi
Leo Stjohn
Linda Ann Clendenny
Linda Desposito
Linda John
Linda Krekey
Lisa Dowda
Liz Perez Federico
Lucia Velez
Lucy Rodriguez
Lupita Sosa
Luz Mercado Vientos
Luz-Abel Garcia
Lynn Tondrick
Lysette Plasencia
Marcelino Diaz II
Marcelino Diaz
Margaret Ann
Margaret Tollefsen Andersen
Margie Ramirez
Maria Palazzo
Maria Gallo
Maritza Morales
Maritza Adorno Arbelo
Marlana Triggs
Marta Evelyn Alvarado-Nieves
Matthew Pavlich
Maximus J Sierra
Maylin Diaz
Mayra Ortiz-Ranko
Mayra Vasquez
Melissa Lee
Michael Tomlinson
Miguel Cordero
Monica Montoya
Nan Muniz
Natalia Mazzuchelli
Natasha A Valle
Nina Nina
Olga Gonzalez
Patricia Peralta
Patricia M. Barton-Quinn
Pedro J. Soto
Pedro V Sosa Mora
Raj Sindha
Ralph Andersen
Ralph Perfetto
Renee Toni Giordano
Rey Cordero
Richard Alvarado
Ricky Bowen
Rob Aguilar
Rosa Flores
Rose Mary Mittenzwei-Lopez
Ruby Colon
Ruth Edebohls
Sandra Serrano
Sherry Lee Costello
Sherry RivCer
Shivram Baito Basant
Sissel Ulland Hansen
Starrlyn Sierra
Steven Nobles
Sunset Kathryn
SunsetQueen Reyes
Susan Frederick
Thomas Martinez
Thomas Galarza
Tom Lyons
Tom Vlismas
Tommy Shamu
Tony Giordano
UJ Hamill
Valentina Gonzalez
Valerie Margaret
Veronica Hunko
Virginia Valentin
Waleska Mora
Will Cruz
Willie Plasencia
Zaida Urena

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The displacement of the Lenape was rapid

after the visit by Henry Hudson. Diseases as serious

as small pox and as simple as the mumps or the common cold, brought from Europe, lay waste to the Lenape who had no built-up immunities.  

 

But the final blow came from "devious" land deals

which the Europeans insisted gave them legal right

to force the "natives" from the land.  In 1636,

most of the Sunset Park community - 930 acres were purchased by Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bentyn

from the Native inhabitants, and nine years later

all of Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton &

Dyker Heights were bought. 

There is no way to undo the damage that was done,

but through mutual respect and education

we can hope to never make such

terrible mistakes again.  

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