What's the foundation all about?
How do I donate?
What's going on now?
What's the foundation all about?
The Lenape Forum is a
non-profit private foundation, formed in the state of Minnesota on 7/27/2000.
The foundation's purpose is to preserve the culture of the Lenni
Lenape Indians (also known as the Delaware Indians) and to help the
impoverished among them. To accomplish this the Forum is
establishing a 2-pronged approach: one is educational and the other
charitable. The educational aspect is completely cultural in
nature; while the charitable aspect is designed to assist those in
need from around the country. The forum has or plans to
establish the following programs in support of both educational and
charitable goals:
Cultural Education / Preservation Initiatives
1. Electronic historical archive: a central
point where historical data will be gathered, stored, and
cataloged. This element has been started: however, it will take
a considerable amount of resources and years to complete. The
Forum will update the archive as projects are completed. The
plan is to document every aspect of the Lenni Lenape people from the
food they did and do eat to the clothes they did and do wear.
2. Consolidation of general tribal information:
a central point where current information; such as, what services are
available, access to tribal governing documents, and where tribal
members are located will be gathered and stored. This element
has been completed and will be updated as information is added or changed.
3. Internet Web-site: an entry point to
the Lenape Forum. This is the central control point for all
functions of the foundation; the web-site also provides access to the
public to all established initiatives. It is a living site
continually changing and designed to promote communications between
all Lenape people. This element has been initiated.
4. Funding for cultural preservation
initiatives: these funds will support cultural activities; such
as, Lenape language classes, Lenape dance and song classes, and
Lenape crafts classes. This element will begin as funding
becomes available.
These four elements will
establish a valuable educational tool that can be accessed by
students, historians, donors, or anyone through the Internet.
These elements will go a long way toward preserving cultural
information for future generations.
Charitable Initiatives
1. Services improvement
program: this program is designed to address weaknesses within
tribal administrative and community services departments. This
program will evaluate a departments overall efficiency from its
organizational structure to equipment usage and everything in
between. After the evaluation, resources or assistance will be
provided to strengthen identified deficient areas. By improving
tribal departmental efficiency this program will enhance the services
provided to the needy. This element will begin as funding
becomes available.
2. Emergency funding program: this program
will Stop-the-Gap between eligibility for a service and the
availability of that service; for example, a homeless mother of two
applies for government subsidized housing and is granted a housing
unit; however, the unit will not be available for several weeks.
This program would be ready to provide funding for temporary lodging
while she awaits the housing unit. This program will also
assist any tribal community service on an emergency basis in
supporting the impoverished. This program will begin as funding
becomes available.
Both elements are designed to enhance existing
community services; in doing so, these elements not only increase the
aid to the needy they will lessen the burden on local, state, and
federal governments.
The directors of the Lenape
Forum or their designated representatives will conduct all activities
of the Lenape Forum within the borders of the United States.
All representatives conducting activities will be volunteers.
This plan is just a first step in preserving our culture and helping
our people: additional initiatives may be added as needs arise.
Please let us hear some feed back, leave a comment in the message center.
Donations
Your
help is needed to fund the foundation's activities: No money equals
no activities. Please make checks payable to the "Lenape
Forum" and mail to the following address:
9037 Oak Ridge Drive
Monticello, MN. 55362
We have obtained tax exempt status with the IRS, so all donations are
tax deductible.
What's
going on now?
-
Fundraising Drive for
2000 has been completed. We sent out 3500 letters and have
received 55 dollars in donations. We just want to thank all of
you for your generosity. Thank you very much!
-
Archives: we are in the process of acquiring
copies of all treaties signed between the U. S. Government and the
Delaware Indians. The National Archives in Washington D.C. has
micro-film records available to the public. There are 18 rolls
of film at 34 dollars a roll for a total of $612 dollars. This
project has not been funded; however, as funds become available we
will acquire the film, make copies, and scan them into the archives.
