PRINTER'S NO. 1900
No. 152 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY JOSEPHS, MUNDY, BELARDI, HORSEY, GODSHALL, TRELLO,
BOSCOLA, PISTELLA, M. N. WRIGHT, HENNESSEY, ROONEY,
YOUNGBLOOD, L. I. COHEN AND RICHARDSON, MAY 9, 1995
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 9, 1995
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the Lenape Coalition of Lenapehocking as an alliance
2 of independent family clan groups; and memorializing Congress
3 to acknowledge the Lenape Coalition of Lenapehocking as such.
4 WHEREAS, The Lenape Coalition of Lenapehocking desires to be
5 formally recognized as such by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 because the Lenape Coalition is composed of several surviving
7 clans of the Lenape (later called Delaware Indians) culture; and
8 WHEREAS, The Lenape have an unbroken history of thousands of
9 years of settlement in the Pennsylvania area; and
10 WHEREAS, The Lenape originated in the prehistoric area and
11 have preserved their unique culture through the family clan
12 system and autonomous villages; and
13 WHEREAS, The Lenape people have made an important
14 contribution to the cultural enrichment of the lifestyle of
15 Native Americans and other indigenous people and to the cultural
16 enrichment of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United
17 States of America; and
1 WHEREAS, The goal of the Lenape Coalition is to develop self-
2 determined communities through programs to solve the economic
3 problems; to supplement the income of the senior citizens; to
4 provide higher education assistance for its youngsters; to teach
5 self-sufficiency skills to the other-abled; to promote awareness
6 of Lenape native ancestry; to maintain Lenape lifeways, such as
7 traditional arts and crafts; and to preserve and share the
8 Lenape cultural heritage through educational programs for all
9 children and adults of all ability levels; and
10 WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
11 Pennsylvania fully supports the struggle of the Lenape Coalition
12 of Lenapehocking for recognition as an Indian tribe; and
13 WHEREAS, Commonwealth recognition of the Lenape Coalition of
14 Lenapehocking will give the Lenape people the capacity to
15 qualify for the kind of assistance, including, but not limited
16 to, funds provided under various programs of the Federal
17 Government that will help the Lenape Coalition to better achieve
18 their goals; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
20 express its recognition of the Lenape Coalition of Lenapehocking
21 as an alliance of independent family clan groups which
22 originated in prehistoric times and which continue to exist in
23 this Commonwealth; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
25 of the United States to acknowledge the Lenape Coalition of
26 Lenapehocking as such; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
28 the presiding officers of each House of Congress and to each
29 member of Congress from Pennsylvania; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
19950H0152R1900 - 2 -
1 the Lenape Coalition of Lenapehocking and the Lenni Lenape
2 Historical Society of Pennsylvania Museum of Indian Culture.
D24L82SFG/19950H0152R1900 - 3 -