On this page you'll find
several topics listed and described in as much detail as I have
available. Your opinion about each topic is not only wanted it
is needed if we are to recover a sense of unity among our
people. It's easy to do: click on the selected topic,
read the topic, form an opinion, and click on the "MESSAGE"
button to leave a message. Any opinion left on the message
board can be viewed by anyone entering the board, so read through
some of them and hear what others have to say. Once you enter
the message board, each topic will have a separate heading under
which you can leave your message. In addition to the selected
topic headings there are four headings that will always be
listed: "General," " Suggestions,"
"Foundation", and "Topics:"
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Under the "General" heading you can leave a
message on any subject you choose.
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Under the "Suggestions" heading you can
recommend improvements or additions to this site.
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Under the "Topics" heading you can suggest
future topics to be researched and discussed.
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Under the "Foundation" heading you can
address any questions on the Lenape Forum's activities.
Don't
be afraid to make a comment. The Message board is easy to use;
however, you must register the first time you use it. You'll
receive a pass word that will allow you to post your comments.
I'm going to start the communication process off
with four topics for discussion:
For most of my adult life I
have wanted to know more about my native heritage; the want was
there, but the how was a problem. I was not a registered member
of the tribe until the early 1970's. My father never talked
about the tribe. It was only through my grandmother that anyone
in my family was enlightened about our Delaware native roots.
We knew the tribe was in Oklahoma (my family is from Minnesota), but
that's all we knew. Starting after my retirement from the
military I decided to go to Oklahoma to see what I could see: that
was 1996, I returned in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. What have I
learned ( see Lenape Notes)? Quite a bit considering I've only
been around the tribal area for 5 weeks spread across 5 years: the number-one
thing I've learned is that digging up one's lost heritage is a bit
harder than one might suspect. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Through my journey of
discovery I've developed a list of wants:
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I want to share the knowledge I've absorbed with other
Lenape who have yet to start their own journey.
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I want to meet and socialize with other Lenape from
around the country, especially from my home state.
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I want to be involved in tribal affairs.
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I want to help motivate others to become involved.
I have a strong feeling
that many of you have some of the same wants that I have. So how do
we achieve what we want? How do we communicate with other
Delaware when we are spread all across the country? How can we
gather information about our culture and tribal issues? How can
we become involved in tribal affairs when the tribe is centered in
Oklahoma? Well I think this web site is a good answer: to
start anyway.
We can use this site to
catalog information of all types; cultural, current events, and
historical. We can organize within our states, or coordinate
visits to the tribal headquarters, and share concerns about tribal
issues. We can can add video and audio features so we can have
real time conversations face to face. The possibilities are
endless. Yes I think this site is needed, but only you can say
if it is wanted.
BACK TO TOP
How important is Lenape blood content?
I'm 1/4 Delaware blood, my
father is 1/2, my Grandfather was full, and my daughters are
1/8. I honor my ancestors in my thoughts on a daily basis
and I'm proud to call myself Lenape; however this was not
always the case. As a younger man, who was not reared within
our culture, I placed little importance on my native roots.
Through the years as I gained life experiences and maturity I also
began to feel a strong compulsion to know about my native blood;
although, I still did not vote or familiarize myself with tribal
issues because I was only 1/4 Delaware. Surely it was not my place to
say what should or should not be.
It was only my visits to the
tribal center in Oklahoma that opened my eyes to the error of my
involvement concerns: all of the people I met looked of mixed
ancestry, yet they were involved within tribal affairs. I
suspect that only a small fraction of our population are full or near
full bloods. I see now that it's the strength of our ancestors
spirit within us not the blood content that's important. I
believe that if we choose to honor our heritage we must set aside
concerns over "how Lenape we are."
There are some other issues
that must also be considered; for example, I heard of an incident
recently where a 1/2 blood Delaware member is being forced to wait
for medical aid (non-emergency) while some one of 1/64 blood was
serviced. Under a first come first serve system all eligible
members are treated equally, but is that fair when funds for all
services are limited. At the moment all Delaware members are
teated equally for all services. What do you think?
Should there be a line drawn saying what blood level will or will not
receive benefits or services?
While you ponder this issue
consider this: do we want our children to have less rights
within the tribe because we have married outside our culture?
Also any future per-capita payments will depend on where that line is drawn.
GO TO PAGE TOP
Per Capita payments, yes or no?
When the tribe finally
establishes a firm financial base, I know there are those among us
that favor per capita payments. I count myself in favor of
this, it would be great to have a nice bonus; however, let me clarify
my position. I'm a first things first person; before I get paid
I want to see some "essentials" properly funded. I
think we should get our per capita payments after establishing an
enduring endowment for our cultural preservation committee, and after
a comprehensive education aid and achievement program is funded, and
after our elders are cared for; and I have a bunch more, but I think
you get the idea. So yes I'm completely in favor of per capita
payments, right after the "essentials" are taken care of.
Let's take a look at the
numbers: there are nearly 7,000 registered voters, many with
children. This takes the numbers to 10,000 payees
(estimated). Now lets add the 3000 (estimated) or so
non-registered Lenape who would register when there is money to be
had; which increases our payees to around 13,000. OK let's say
we each will get 100 dollars a year: 100 x 13,000 = 1,300,000.
Well I don't know about you, but 100 bucks won't make much of a
bonus, so let's each get 1000 dollars. That sounds much
better: 1000 x 13000 = 13,000,000. Well now, I wonder
when the tribe will have an extra 13 MILLION DOLLARS to hand
out. Boy, I can hardly wait. So what do you think per capita yes or
per capita no?
Anyone interested in Genealogy?
My Great, Great Grand Mother
was A-le-pah-ke-now and my Great, Great Grand Father was
Ah-mich-oh-muse. A-le-pah-ke-now had 2 daughters Susie Spybuck
( my Great Grandmother) and Laura Tonganoxie. Susie Spybuck and
Solomon Newcomb had a son (my Grand Father) Bushy Head Newcomb.
These are all people I did not know.
I have many questions:
did Laura Tonganoxie have any children? Did Susie Spybuck have
any other children? I've heard my Grand Father had other
children, who and where are they? I Know I have other relatives, but
how do I find them?
These questions have given me
an idea; I'm thinking about adding a Genealogy page. This would
allow us to fill in what we know about our individual ancestry so we
can see how it matches up. This sounds like a lot of work,
which I'm willing to do if there is interest. If at least 100
people are interested I'll begin to work on it: so if you're
interested log into the message board and let me know.
Aunts, Uncles, and cousins I will find you!
