Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day - a day that serves to dispel the whitewashed stories of our country and properly honor and celebrate the culture and histories of this land’s indigenous people.

And it doesn’t stop there – today serves as an opportunity to invigorate or reinvigorate our commitment to consistently prioritize the inclusion of indigenous needs and voices in our work. As organizations and people serving and residing in the Delaware River Watershed, we are deeply connected to the value of this land and waters. Which is why it is critical to ensure this connection is whole, that it includes the original people of this land, an understanding of the history, and incorporates ongoing, authentic commitments to action.

In the watershed, we gather on the traditional territory of the Lenape, the Lenapehoking (Lenape Homelands); a territory that encompasses New Jersey, northern Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, and southeastern New York. The Lenape are the original stewards of this land, holding a deep spiritual relationship between the land and the Creator, and viewing themselves as one with nature. The Lenape are not a historical token, but an active and present collection of people represented by various tribal groups across this region, and due to the forcible removal from their original lands, across the country.

As we work to learn and take action, it is important to recognize that the foundational history of America is one of violent colonialism, stolen land, genocide, forcible removal, displacement, deception, erasure, racism, ethnic cleansing, and beyond. It is our responsibility to use the real language of what has happened, and not to soften this history to make it appear less harmful than it was. Examine your learning and unpack instances where this history has been mythologized.

As a Coalition dedicated to the environment and people of what we now call the Delaware River Watershed, we call upon ourselves and our members to honor Indigenous Peoples Day today and every day by taking a thoughtful and honest inventory of where we are and take action on where we need to go. Commit to consistently using your voice and power to uplift the wisdom and needs of the indigenous peoples of this land and create a holistically empowered environment for all beings. Here are some steps, action items, and growth points you can commit to personally and organizationally.

Personal Level

Make a commitment to learning
- First and foremost, it is key to learn. Commit to understanding the history and current culture of the tribe(s) in your area. Understand the real history and consequences of colonization – the consequences of which are very much still happening to this day. Deepen your understanding of the oppression embedded in environmentalism and this country’s relationship to land. Seek information and resources created by indigenous people. Critically examine the language and way stories are told when reading resources not created by indigenous people. You can read books, research online, and visit museums. Do not ask indigenous people to do the mental and emotional labor for you. Scroll to the end of this article for some resources to get you started.
Learn Which Land You’re On
Hone your DEIJ lens
Use your voice – call people in, challenge harmful behavior
Support Indigenous businesses and content
Donate money to organizations and/or Tribes
Check out Illuminative for education and action tools

Organizational Level

Learn, Integrate, Advocate
- Advocate for a dedicated time and space for all staff members to educate themselves about Indigenous Peoples in your area, the issues that are important to them, and the national and historical context of these issues.
- Then dedicate time for the workforce discusses these learnings, take inventory of where your organization has been lacking on Indigenous issues, and identify spaces where your organization can be supportive and/or lift up these voices
- As you continue to learn, consistently use this awareness and lens in the workplace. Call on others to commit to learning. Examine the representation in the spaces you’re working in. Examine who’s needs and/or voices are considered in projects. Identify those gaps, say something, and do something about it.

Building Relationships

As you do this work, you must recognize gaps. Avoid reaching out to Indigenous Groups in a panic to diversify your organization. Your goal shouldn’t be to make your work look better, it should be to use your platform and power to uplift voices and support the missions of indigenous peoples. Because of the harm, history, and challenges indigenous communities have faced, building these relationships requires consent, trust building, and time. Make sure you and your organization have done the internal work first before reaching out externally. If you do so before you’re ready, you risk causing more harm.

Mindful Outreach

As you embark on outreach, ensure it is mindful. Ensure the voices you intend to serve are consulted and included. Again, starting with education and intentional relationship building is key. Consult resources that are available to ensure you’re not perpetuating harmful narratives or false priorities.
- Changing the Narrative About Native Americans - A Guide for Allies
- Illuminative’s Action Guide

Land Acknowledgement

As we continue our work in the Lenapehoking, land acknowledgements are one way to affirm, raise awareness, and acknowledge indigenous peoples’ culture, histories, and relationships to the land. The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation offers this Acknowledgement for those holding events in their territory.
It critical to recognize, that land acknowledgments, while valuable, are only meaningful with real actions behind them. You should not be doing land acknowledgements until you’ve taken personal and organizational inventory and properly educated yourselves. Check out this excellent guide to learn more about developing land acknowledgements.

Learning Resources:

Delaware Nation - Welcome to the Official Site of Delaware Nation

Ramapough Lenape Nation – Keepers of the Pass

Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation

Official Site of the Delaware Tribe of Indians

Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania (lenape-nation.org)

Lenape Indian Tribe Delaware, Kent County (lenapeindiantribeofdelaware.com)

Indigenous Peoples' Day - IllumiNative (illuminatives.org)

West Philadelphia Collaborative History - The Original People and Their Land: The Lenape, Pre-History to the 18th Century (upenn.edu)

11 Things to Do on Indigenous Peoples Day! | Cultural Survival

Acts of Solidarity on Indigenous Peoples Day and Beyond | Cultural Survival