The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation and Salem Quarter Religious Society of Friends have loving relationship grounded by original oral treaties honouring Tribal sovereignty, perpetual peace & friendship. With intention of releasing this love throughout Lenapehoking, the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Lenape People, we are blessed with the formation of a bridge – PhYM First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative.
Mission
The First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative seeks a more inclusive, equitable beloved community, one that recognizes the diversity of Lenape Tribal Nations People and their relations in partnership with those who have immigrated to and have shared use of Lenapehoking.
What We Do
Faithfully we respond to the still small voice within, opening us to Indigenous sovereignty, calling us to shift ways of learning and being. With revelation, we listen to voices of local Lenape Tribal Nations leadership and accept invitation to Lenape Tribal Nations events; we acknowledge historic truths toward decolonizing causative oppressions that deny human rights and liberties; we acknowledge that of the Creator of all things, bearing responsibilities of being citizens of an unjust empire; and as invited by Lenape Tribal Nations leadership, in solidarity, we pursue acts of justice from the predominant society.
Who We Are
We are members and fellow worshipers of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, over 100 Meetinghouses and worship groups, who provide a place of welcome, specifically toward neighbourly inclusion of Lenape Tribal Nations People. We are Friends who acknowledge the diversity within our Beloved community, and we seek truth telling toward reconciliation with the original people & hosts to this land, Lenapehoking. Our contemporary lifeways strive to honour the original treaties of perpetual peace and friendship between local Lenape Tribal Nations (“keepers of the land”) and immigrant seekers – Religious Society of Friends and all who reside in Lenapehoking.
When We Meet
The First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative core members meet with local Lenape Tribal Nations leadership as needed and accept invitation to gather at Lenape Tribal Nations non-public and public events. Spirit moved, the FCRC hosts open set public events throughout the year, posted on the PYM calendar and/ or as a PYM News Story. We strive to have a presence during Friendly gatherings – Tri-Quarter, Annual Sessions, and Continuing Sessions. As a collaborative there is intention to network with other organizations when mutually beneficial – BYM & NYYM Indian Committees, Eco-Justice Collaborative, Quaker Earthcare Witness, Undo Racism, Indigenous Philly/ Indigenous 215, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition….
Get Involved
FCRC calls on Friends to take into our individual and collective hearts the realities of local sovereign Lenape Tribal Nations who continue to reside on their ancestral homeland, Lenapehoking. A valuable introduction, We Are Still Here, is offered as a free downloadable from the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. Additional FCRC web pages offer a multitude of opportunities toward creating space for that which has been missing. Representatives from the collaborative welcome requests of consultation for community clearness/ next steps, as well as find inspiration from hearing initiatives that lift up local Tribal Nations throughout the four state region – NJ, DE, eastern shore MD, eastern PA.