The Quaker Fund for Indigenous Communities (QFIC) of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting supports Native American/Indigenous-led initiatives that strengthen communities and continue cultural heritage. This year, QFIC granted $2,000 to Indigenous Peoples Day Philly Inc., which has organized an annual cultural festival and awareness campaign for Indigenous Peoples Day (IPD) since 2017. Since 2019, they have celebrated this Native American/Indigenous social justice movement at Shackamoxon, also known as Penn Treaty Park.
The QFIC funds that were granted included support for expenses to Lenape Delaware tribal members from the federally recognized tribe to participate in IPD Philly on October 13 this year as well as other programs in which they might participate at other times of the year.
NINTH ANNUAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY EVENT (Press Release)
TO BE HELD OCTOBER 13
This is an in-person and live-stream event. Don’t miss it!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Philly 2025 is a celebration of Indigenous communities in Philadelphia and beyond. This event will combine traditional and contemporary indigenous art, music, dance, and food to increase awareness of indigenous issues. The festivities also serve as an opportunity to discuss the strengths and history of the First Peoples of Americas.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Philadelphia is growing and hundreds of Philadelphians will be joining this citywide movement at Shackamaxon (Penn Treaty) Park on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 5 PM EDT.
This year marks the Ninth Annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Philadelphia, organized by Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, Inc. (IPD Philly), an Indigenous-led non-profit based in the city. This annual event serves as a ritual for many, honoring the strength and resilience of thousands of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island, Abya Yala, and the Caribbean.
Furthermore, despite a PA Court overturned executive order No 2-21 that made Indigenous Peoples’ Day an official holiday in Philadelphia, WE ARE STANDING STRONG!! – (read our statement). Our communities have persevered for over 530 years in the face of colonization and genocide. Join us for a day filled with celebration, reflection, and connection.
Featured Speakers
We are honored to welcome back two prominent members of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma, Curtis Zunigha and Tonya Anna, to share their extensive knowledge and wisdom. Curtis will speak about rich Lenape Cultural traditions and Tonya as the Assistant Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians will open the event with a welcoming speech.
Additionally, Eugene Black Crow (Oglala Lakhota, director of the Lakhota Woglakapo Project, and board member of IPD Philly), alongside his daughter Samanata Pond, will share their extensive knowledge and experience with the Land Back Movement from a Lakhota perspective.
We also welcome back Representative Christopher Rabb (200th district, Philadelphia County). Representative Rabb has been serving the 200th district since 2017 and continues to be a strong ally of Indigenous communities throughout Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Featured Performers
We have an incredible lineup of talented performers to share with you this year—none of whom should be missed!
We are excited to debut the Lenape Dancers from Oklahoma, a group from the Delaware Tribe of Indians who will delight us with Lenape history, songs, dances, and authentic traditional clothing and instruments. The audience will also be invited to participate in the Bean and Stomp Dances.
Joining us from Peru is renowned composer and quena player Sergio “Chucho” Cuadros, who is known to be one of the top ten quena players in the world. We can’t wait to hear his music!
We are also thrilled to welcome back two amazing hip-hop artists whose impeccable stage presence is sure to inspire everyone. Marcus “Quese” Frejo, a Pawnee and Seminole hip-hop artist and producer, and the fabulous “Ra” Jikotea Niaku’no Ruiz León, a Taíno-Borikua artist from Boriken (Puerto Rico). Each will share powerful songs about land rights and justice for Indigenous peoples.
We are also thrilled to welcome back Inkarayku, a fusion Andean band from New York City. They will be accompanied by a group of Wayno dancers, who will perform and demonstrate captivating folk songs and dances in the Quechua language. Everyone will want to dance along!
Canpatlaneci, a Philadelphia-based Aztec dance troupe, will present performances rooted in their Indigenous Mexican traditions. They will be joined by Kamaxtle Xiuncoatl and Huey Xolotl, two other dance groups based in Philadelphia.
Lastly, but not the least, we are delighted to celebrate Tchin, a multi-award-winning storyteller, metalsmith, author, and flutemaker. His stories are truly magical. Everyone would want to experience them.
Featured Vendors
The IPD Philly 2025 vendor line-up reflects the diversity of our featured presenters and performers. This year, we’re excited to welcome Crazy Turtle Design who specializes in ribbon skirts, and plaque designs on repurposed jackets, ties and other clothing. Also the Petrichor Art, a queer, trans non-binary, mixed indigenous duo offering handmade jewelry and art. Returning vendors include the incredibly talented Tenangos Philly, showcasing Otomi-Tepehua embroidery; Kungi Sapa Moccasins & Crafts, which offers traditional Lakota leatherwork; Native Crafts, providing jewelry, clothing, and art from the Kichwa Nation; Claudette Bryant (Shinnecock Indian Nation), who skillfully works with leather and skins to create stunning regalia and regalia accessories.
Don’t miss it!
This family-friendly event is open to the public, and we encourage everyone to join us for a day of celebration and education. Bring your blankets and chairs to enjoy the festivities at Shackamaxon (Penn Treaty) Park) on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 5 PM EDT.
For details and spread the word, visit our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/19nYb3tAqt/
If you cannot attend, you can watch the entire event online. In partnership with PhillyCAM, our event will be livestream on our Facebook page and on our YouTube channel: https://www.facebook.com/IPDphilly/ https://www.youtube.com/@ipdphilly
Lastly, if you cannot attend, support us by sending a tax-exempt contribution here https://ipdphilly.org/donate/
From the IPD PHILLY Team!
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About Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, Inc
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly, Inc (IPD Philly) is an Indigenous-led 501c3 non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, PA, and was established in 2017 in the Lenape Unami territory of Lenapehoking (Southern PA and NJ). IPD Philly’s mission is to cultivate an active Native American/Indigenous presence in the city of Philadelphia through cultural, educational, and community-building initiatives. In order to uplift Native traditions, creative economies, and histories, IPD Philly’s vision is to counter historical Indigenous erasure—the deliberate and systematic destruction of Native cultures and violent displacement of Native peoples to this day. Over time, IPD Philly seeks to build stronger communication channels between the City of Philadelphia and Native constituencies.
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
EVENT NAME: Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philly 2025
LOCATION: Shackamaxon (Penn Treaty) Park – 1301 N Beach St, Philadelphia, PA 19125
TIME: 10:30 AM – 5 PM EDT.
PAY-AS-YOU-WISH: Suggested donation $12 for adults , $5 for elders and youth 12+
RSVP FB EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/share/19nYb3tAqt/
TO DONATE: https://ipdphilly.org/donate
MEDIA KIT ONLINE: https://ipdphilly.org/mediakit2025/
PRESS RELEASE: https://ipdphilly.org/press-release-ipdphilly2025/
EVENT PROGRAM: coming soon!
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Speakers (Confirmed)
- Tonya Anna, Assistant Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians
- Curtis Zunigha, a citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, co-director of the Lenape Center in NYC, and long time advisor of IPD Philly.
- Eugene Black Crow, a citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, director of the Lakhota Woglakapo Project, and board member of IPD Philly.
- Samantha Pond, a citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
- Rep. Christopher M. Rabb, 200th District / Philadelphia County
Performers (Confirmed)
- Lenape Dancers of Oklahoma (Lenape)
- Sergio “Chicho” Cuadros (Native Peruvian)
- Inkarayku (Quechua Fusion Band) with dance group
- Tchin (Indigenous Storyteller)
- Ra (Taino-Borikua Artist)
- Canpatlaneci (Aztec Dance Troupe) with
- Native Nations Dance Theater (Vaughnda Hilton)
- Marcus “Quese IMC“ Frejo (Pawnee, Seminole Multi-Talented Artist)
BOOTHS WITH Activities
- “Lenape Curriculum” info-booth by the Lenape Center
- “My Bohio” activity and info-booth by Taino-borikua artist Priscilla Bell
- “Andean Music” info-booth by Inkarayku
- “Basic Bead-Making Jewelry” booth by Native Nations Dance Theater
Vendors (Confirmed)
- Crazy Turtle Designs – (Lenape / Delaware)
- Kungi Sapa Moccasins & Crafts – (Oglala Lakota)
- Claudette Bryant – (Shinnecoke)
- Tenangos Philly – (Native Mexican / Otomi)
- Kichwas Arts – (Native Ecuadorian)
- Richie Olivera Flutes – (Native Peruvian)
- Native Crafts – (Native Ecuadorian / Kichwa)
- Canpatlaneci Merchandise – (Native Mexican, Central and South American)
- Petrichor Art
City Sponsors
- Philadelphia Parks & Recreations
- Councilman Mark Squilla’s Office
Mayor Sponsors
- Rivers Casino
- FIFA 2025 Philadelphia
- Barnes Foundation
- Farm Philly
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
In-Kind Sponsors
- Mariposa
- Longwood Gardens
- Helium Comedy Philadelphia
Media Partner
Community Partners
- Cesar Andreú Iglesias Community Garden
- Penn Language Center
- Circle Legacy
Event Funders
- The Philadelphia Cultural Funds
- Bread & Roses Community Funds
- Quakers Fund for Indigenous Communities
- Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
- WingspanPA (Funding for this grant is made possible with the generous support from Spring Point Partners, and additional funding from PA Humanities, individual donors and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
- Philadelphia’s Cultural Treasures (A regional effort of the larger national initiative from the Ford Foundation funded by the William Penn Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, The Barra Foundation, The Neubauer Family Foundation, and The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage)
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EVENT LOCATION & THE LENAPE:
Shackamaxon, historically known as Penn Treaty Park, is a significant site along the banks of the Delaware River in Philadelphia, situated within Lenapehoking—the ancestral territory of the Lenape (Delaware) people, the original inhabitants of Delaware, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania. The name Shackamaxon comes from the Lenape phrase “sakimauchheen ing,” which means “place to make a chief.” This location served as a gathering point for the community to recognize family and clan leaders.
This remarkable park is home to an eighth-generation tree, a direct descendant of the famous Treaty Elm, where the Lenape people held important council meetings. It was on this very ground that the legendary leader Tamanend (also known as Tammany) signed the historic Treaty of Shackamaxon with the Englishman William Penn in 1682.
The significance of this site, steeped in history and cultural heritage, establishes a vital connection to the tragic legacy of the collaboration between the Lenape (Delaware) Tribes and early English settlers. The descendants of these settlers would ultimately force the Lenape from their homelands to Indian Territory in Oklahoma and Wisconsin in the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada.
This painful journey spanned many years and led to the scattering of countless Lenape people and families across the country. Today, there are five federally recognized Lenape (Delaware) Tribes in the United States and Canada that assert their presence and heritage: the Delaware Nation in Anadarko, Oklahoma; the Delaware Tribe of Indians in Bartlesville, Oklahoma; the Stockbridge-Munsee Community in Bowler, Wisconsin; the Munsee-Delaware Nation; and the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown in Ontario, Canada. Furthermore, there are also Lenape members of the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, alongside the people of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, who continue to uphold their rich cultural identity.
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