Land Acknowledgement: A Collaboration between DIA and Ty “Dancing Wolf” Ellis, Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation of New Jersey

In January 2022, the DIA committee met with Ty “Dancing Wolf” Ellis, a member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation of New Jersey to learn about the history of the Lenni-Lenape in Southern New Jersey, to strengthen our land acknowledgment, and to offer support of the Tribal Nation’s efforts. A result of this conversation was the development of a revised Land Acknowledgement that took these new perspectives into account. A framed copy of this Land Acknowledgement can be found in the Diversity in Action Space on the 2nd floor of James Hall.

Lenni-Lenape Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that Rowan University rests on Native American land that is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called Lenapehoking.  We acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. During the colonial era and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain among the continuing historical tribal communities of the region: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation; the Ramapough Lenape Nation; and the Powhatan Renape Nation, The Nanticoke of Millsboro Delaware, and the Lenape of Cheswold Delaware. We recognize their historic desire for harmony among the indigenous people of this land, descendants of immigrants, and descendants of the enslaved brought here forcibly, “as long as the rivers and creeks flow, and the sun, moon, and stars shine” (Lenape Chief Tamanend, https://nlltribe.com/land-acknowledgement/). We acknowledge that we work, teach, and learn here and bear responsibility to engage meaningfully in relationship with the tribal community of the Lenni-Lenape people on their homeland.