NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE
20102010 2010
VOL #49 SEPTEMBER 2010
Turkey Times
He’ Lenape Citizens,
October 9th. We thank Jan and Tony Durham for
allowing us to celebrate on their property. Please be
reminded this is not a public event, however, friends and
family are welcome. Our Fall Gathering is the time of
the year when your Tribal government celebrates all our
relations by honoring those who have supported our
efforts. Our celebration will include a Circle Ceremony
and a Naming Ceremony for those who wish to receive
their Indian names. Please see the included Gathering
informational flyer.
I saw many familiar faces at the Nanticoke
powwow the weekend of September 11th& 12th. I had
the pleasure to meet Chief Tom Robbins for the first
time. Chief Robbins was very cordial and sincere
making it easy for me to feel at home. Saturday was a
picture perfect powwow day but Sunday’s weather left a
little to be desired. Even though the dance arena was
slightly damp on Sunday, enthusiasm for celebrating
their Native culture was very high.
Wani’shi,
Chief Dennis J. Coker
Summer is behind us and we have recently arrived
at the autumnal equinox when the energies of day and night
are balanced. This occurred on September 23rd. At the
autumnal equinox, the direction of the west, we can pause
to thank our ancestors and the Earth and take some time to
pay it forward to the generations to come. In the time of
autumn, the time of sunset, we have been tempered by the
seasons of life. Summer, the season of growth, is over. The
fruit is ready for harvest, the seeds begin to fall to the
group, our winter approaches and we come to the
realization that our time on Earth is short and that all things
pass away. The question arises, what do we leave behind,
what is our legacy? What will take root and grow when the
spring equinox comes to awaken the Earth? In the
indigenous traditions of the Northern Hemisphere, it is a
time of harvest and preparation for the winter. The fall
equinox also represents maturity and the coming of
wisdom. Wisdom comes from turning away from our
personal needs and desires, to caring for the future and all
our relations.
I don’t have much of an assessment of this summer
except to say that it was much like last summer, hot in June
and cooler in August. As you recall, this combination led to
a snowy winter. In talking to Elders and those who pay
attention to signs which may help forecast the weather, we
might have cause for concern. I’ve noticed the caterpillars
are darker than usual. The nut crops are not as heavy as I’ve
seen them. These two signs seem to contradict each other. I
believe the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting lower than
normal temperatures and higher than usual precipitation. I
guess we’ll have to wait and see.
I would like to commend the organizers of our
Youth summer camp for a fine job. Our Youth participants,
thirteen in all, were highly motivated and yearning for
more. Your Tribal Council vows continued support to our
Youth. These programs are essential to our goal of renewed
community pride and spirit. I encourage all Tribal citizens
to help make a difference by supporting the activities of our
Youth.
Our Annual Fall Gathering will be held this year on
P.O. Box 79 Cheswold, Delaware 19936
Chief Dennis Coker and son, LCpl. Samuel B. Coker,
at the Nanticoke Powwow Honoring our Veterans
Photo by Cara Blume
302.730.4601
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LenapeIndianTribeOfDelaware.com
NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE
VOL #49 SEPTEMBER 2010
High risk groups include:
-People over 50 years
-Health care workers
-People with chronic health problems, heart and
lung disease
-People that live in nursing home like settings
-Pregnant women
Flu vaccine protection starts approximately 2
weeks after receiving the vaccine.
Reference: Health News and Encyclopedia
www.CCHS.org
Submitted by: Doris Cooper
Cleansing Cedar
Ways and Means Committee
HEALTH AWARENESS
Minnie Bowen, Chairperson
The Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware will hold a
Tribal Yard Sale on Saturday, October 23, 2010 starting
at 7:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., in the parking lot across from
the Cheswold Volunteer Fire Department in Cheswold,
Delaware.
We are asking for donations from our citizens
towards our Tribal Yard Sale to help us with the cost of
mailing out our newsletter.
Please drop off your donations (sorry, no
clothing) the morning of our yard sale. We are unable to
take any items before this date because of no storage
area.
We will also be renting tables for $20 a piece if
you are interested in having your own table. We will take
request on a first come basis by calling the Center at 7604601. Leave a message if no one is at the Center when
you call and include your name, telephone number and
how many tables you are interested in. We will need
these requests, no later than October 16 th. Any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact us.
Influenza Vaccine
Definition: influenza vaccine protects against the flu.
Alternative names are vaccine-influenza,
immunization influenza, flu shot, flu vaccine.
Flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by
influenza virus. In the U.S. out breaks occur mostly in
winter. Symptoms include fever, chills, sore muscles,
and cough. Many people die each year from flu
complications. Most of these people are elderly, young
children or people with compromised immune systems.
There are typically two categories of flu, type
A and type B. Type B does not change much over
time, but type A can rapidly mutate causing a new
form of the flu therefore a new type of flu vaccine
must be developed.
There are 2 types of flu vaccine:
1) Flu shot
2) Nasal spray.
The shot contains killed/inactivate virus and it is not
possible to get flu from a dead virus. But when this
dead virus is introduced to your body it allows you to
mount and build a resistance to the flu. Flu-mist is the
nasal spray vaccine. It uses live weaken virus. It works
by helping the lining of your nose fight off viral
infections. It is given to people between the ages 2-49.
Flu vaccines are generally given at the
beginning of flu season, late October or early
November, but they may be given as late as March.
Shots are administered starting at age 6 months and
older.
People at risk for serious flu infections should receive
yearly flu vaccine.
Kyle Coker &
Paige McNatt
doing the two step
at the Nanticoke
powwow
Photo by Cara
Blume
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NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE
Culture Committee
VOL #49 SEPTEMBER 2010
By-Law Committee
Dennis Coker, Chairperson
We have yet to develop a schedule for the
lecture series focusing on the history of our Tribal
community. Once the schedule has been
developed, flyers will be sent out with date & time
information. Please join in this discussion.
We are still busy gathering historical
information required for the recognition effort
being led by the Confederation Federal
Recognition Committee. If you have information,
photos, school records, church records, please
consider allowing us to make copies for use as
evidence for our recognition effort. We do not
need the originals.
On September 16th, we met with Governor
Jack Markell and Census 2010 district managers
to celebrate the many census partnerships who
assisted in disseminating census information. We
received a wall plaque in appreciation for our
efforts.
Recipe
Old Time Corn Soup
6 ears sweet corn
¼ lb. fat meat
1 bunch wild onions
1 cup water
1 pinch salt & pepper
Scrape the corn on a grater to make the milk run
out. Take a knife and re-scrape all the goodies off
the ear of corn so you have everything it has to
offer. Set aside. In a heavy kettle or pot, brown a
handful of fat meat (fat back, bacon, ham hocks,
pork scraps or whatever you have) with 6 wild
onions chopped. Use the green and bulb of the
onion. Chop some more onion and set aside for
topping the soup when you are done. When the fat
meat is brown and the onions are soft, add the
corn scrapings and water. Cook this up for 20
minutes or so until the soup is creamy. Add some
of the reserved onions, salt and pepper and serve
in large bowls. Eat hot. Corn is one of the three
sisters.
A Little History
When first encountered by the Europeans
in 1524 the Lenape were not a single tribal group
ruled over by a single chief, rather they lived in a
series of separate, independent communities.
Those who lived along the Lower Delaware River
spoke dialects of what is today called Unami.
Dennis Coker, Chairperson
Tribal elections are coming up in November. Be
reminded that in order to vote, citizens must be in good
standing by having attended four (4) citizenship meetings
in the year prior to the election. This election will be the
first under our constitutional governance documents.
Please support this process with your involvement. Your
opinion matters and your vote counts. We are struggling
to fill all of the Council vacancies. Without more
participation from Tribal citizens, this will continue to be
a hindrance. We honor those who have served in the past
and offer encouragement to those who choose to serve.
If interested in becoming a member of the Bylaws
Committee contact Dennis Coker at the Tribal Center.
2010 Youth Camp
“Who Are We”
by Theo Braunskill
Thanks to so many, we had a very successful youth
camp.
The goals and objectives we set before camp:
1) know more about who the Lenape people of Cheswold
are. 2) know more about the language, culture, plants and
herbs. 3) know more about our family Elders. 4) know and
understand the etiquette of powwow and dance 5) make a
regalia and/or ribbon shirt 6) have read a book and
discussed it 7) meet new friends 6) know how to make a
power-point presentation.
Our aim was to teach the youth through fun things
about their heritage to build their esteem and pride in their
culture. Heavy emphasis was put on Lenape ways and
traditions. We not only achieved are goals but also
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NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE
surpassed our every expectation of fulfilling them with great
learning experiences.
Some of our fun filled days included activities like
camp crafts, games, using video camera and recording
equipment and interviewing techniques, book reading, nature
walks, watching videos, dance lessons, regalia making,
learning powwow etiquette. Skype allowed our youth to
communicate with other tribal youth.
One of the activities that I believe was very important
was that of “the circle”. We began each day, with our Chief’s
leadership, called “Chief Talks.” In his teachings we began
with an introduction of ourselves saying “Who Are We” in
Lenape language. We ended each day with the “talking circle”
where the youth were able to express themselves candidly.
Our dedicated counselors not only generously
volunteered their time but provided excitement and interest to
all of the activities. Our counselors were able to connect fun
and education that provided an enjoyable camping experience.
I believe we have created some positive memories that
our youth will carry into adulthood. A CD summarizing our 2week experience is on sale for $10. Proceeds will be used
toward future youth activities.
VOL #49 SEPTEMBER 2010
Tribal Community Services
Senior Medicare Program (SMP)
We are here to help you better understand and
assist you with any problems you may have with
Medicare. We have resource information for our Elders
to try and make life a little bit easier. For you caregivers
out there, please be reminded our services can help with
any questions you might have concerning Medicare and
Medicaid. Give us a call, we’ll be happy to help in any
way we can.
Adopt-a-Highway
DelDOT has designated Saturday, October 2,
2010, as a statewide cleanup day when everyone
(especially AAH volunteers) are invited to come out and
clean Delaware’s roads. This is also a day when
everyone should stop and consider what a litter-free
Delaware would look like and what we can do to make it
a reality.
So please mark your calendars for October 2 and
come out and help your Tribe cleanup our designated
area and participate in Delaware’s 6 th Annual “Imagine A
Litter-Free Delaware” Clean Up Day.
Meet us at the Immanuel Union Methodist
Church parking lot on Saturday, October 2 @ 1:00 p.m.
to receive your safety vest and trash bags. Any
questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Elder Luncheons
We have suspended our Elder lunch program
because of low interest. It is our intent to resume
this program as soon as we can determine there is
an interest. Please stay tuned.
Participants in Youth Camp 2010
Front Row L to R: Jalin Bellamy, Justin Stafford, Nathan
Simons, Kyle Coker. Back Row L to R: Jaclyn McNatt,
Dasani Lewis, Kourtney Williams, Jaelynn Combs, Deborah
McNatt, Mikayla Caldwell, Paige McNatt, Jasel Bellamy,
Autumn Simons.
Photo by Sara Miller Fuller
Truth isn’t something you think.
It’s something you feel.
Wisdom isn’t something you believe.
It’s something you do.
CITIZENSHIP MEETINGS
Everyone is encouraged to attend our monthly citizenship meetings! If you want to voice your opinion on
various issues regarding our Community, this is the place to do it. Meetings are held on the 3 rd Thursday of
each month starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Tribal Center
October 21
November 18
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December 16
NEWSLETTER OF THE LENAPE INDIAN TRIBE OF DELAWARE
VOL #49 SEPTEMBER 2010
EDITOR’S COMMENTS
The staff of the Turkey Times Newsletter needs the
support of our community. If you would like to continue
receiving this newsletter, please fill out the subscription
order form below and send to:
Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware Newsletter
ATT: Dennis Coker
P.O. Box 79
Cheswold, DE 19936
SUBSCRIPTION TO THE
TURKEY TIMES NEWSLETTER
Name:
Chief Coker at Governor's Census Celebration
Photo by Cara Blume
Address:
“God gives his instructions to every creature,
according to His plan for the world. He gave his
Instructions to all the things of nature. The birch tree and
the pine tree, they still follow their instructions and do
their duty in God’s world. The flowers, even the littlest
flower, they bloom and they pass away according to His
Instructions. The birds, even the smallest bird, they live
and they fly and they sing according to His Instructions.
Should human beings be any different?”
Mathew King, Lakota
Phone:
Please send a $5.00 donation along with this form
One-year subscription is a $5.00 donation. Thank
you for your support, without it we would not be able to
continue sending out our Newsletter.
Prayer Request
Please keep the following people in your prayers, as they need our support more now than ever.
If it comes from the heart it goes a long way.
Eleanor Carney
Gladys Morris
Greensbury Ridgeway
Sara Miller Fuller
Garland Carney
Monica Mosley
Libby Hurd
Mary Etta Carter
Verna Durham
Glenn Sammons
Cordelia Rochford
Mary Hughes
Thelma Durham
Jake Sammons, Jr.
Sonny Carney
Dot Morgan
Paul Greenage
Lisa Hurd
Dot Mosley
Harry Morgan, Jr
Closing Prayer
O’ GREAT SPIRIT whose voice I hear in the woods, and whose breath gives life to all the word, hear me! I
am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to
hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me
learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself. Make me also ready to come to you with clean hands and straight
eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
A”Ho
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Youth Camp at DSU nature trail
Youth Camp- figure four dead fall demo
Youth Camp at Delaware Archives
Youth Camp-Dick Gilbert instructs about Turtle Island
Photos by Cara Blume
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P.O. Box 79
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