Minutes of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Indian Committee
9 March 2002

Members present: Anne Hume, Marie Haaf, Amanda Ivory, Julie Kiene, Lois Kuter, Louis Lefevre, Nancy Webster
Guests: Dennis Coker, Chief of the Lenape Tribe of Delaware; Cara Blume, consultant to the Lenape and the Nanticoke; Ed Nakawatase
Regrets: Melissa Elliott, Carrie Goodman, Carol Ann Gray, Sam Lemon


The meeting opened with a silent worship, after which introductions were made and Lois reviewed PYMIC structure and procedures for the guests.

1. The Feb. minutes and the Treasurer's report were approved. The revised dates for the committee meetings, now on May 11 and June 8, were also approved. The new dates are: May 18 and June 15.

2. Methods of publicizing our activities during Yearly Meeting were offered. Our brochures will be put out, with a signup sheet for any Friends who might be interested in receiving further information and/or attending committee meetings Lois will pursue putting up a poster about the upcoming Lenape conference in Delaware.  [NOTE: These things were done, but the signup sheet was removed or lost before it could be retrieved. 100 brochures were put out and all were taken
by the second day.]

3. Anne Hume reported on her visit to the MOWA Choctaw School. This is her 18th year in service with MOWA. With the urging of the tribe, the school has, for the first time, started a preschool. Our funding provided tables, chairs, playground equipment and bookracks for this project; Anne provided pictures of the equipment in use. PYMIC should expect a request from the school in May, for an update of their computer software. Anne suggests that this is the last project we can do.

4. Lois Kuter reported that FCNL is in the process of hiring a full-time person for Indian affairs. Ed Nakawatase will check on when this staff person is expected to be on board. Those who are concerned or have information to help that person should call Ned Stowe at 1-202-547-6000.

5. Guests Chief Dennis Coker and Cara Blume made a detailed and comprehensive report on the upcoming April 27th symposium, "The Lenape: Who Are We and Where Are We Going?" This event is meant as a follow-up to last year's New Jersey gathering and is planned to coincide with the state of Delaware's Archaeology Month. A detailed program was distributed and the background for this effort was explained. Since 2000, a sustained effort has been made by the Delaware Lenape to establish and maintain contact with each of the federally recognized sections of the Lenape nation, whether in the US or Canada. Chief Coker reported on his experiences making this outreach and he
feels that a good beginning has been made. 75% of all the Lenape groups will send representatives.

The main theme of the gathering is "a coming home" of the dispersed nation, a chance to return to the homeland and see who and what remains. As part of this, the nation will open and sustain a dialogue with local archaeologists, including Delaware State officials. However, this event is to be a cultural, not a political, exchange of views among all the participants. Through dancing and drumming, the younger tribal members have developed a community feeling not always shared by their conservative elders, so activities have been planned to satisfy all attenders. Cara Blume spoke about the constituency of each of the Delaware tribal communities, and of current archaeological work. Marie Hunt mentioned the possibility of arranging a visit to an extensive private collection of Lenape artifacts in South Jersey. The possibility of Delaware Monthly Meetings assisting in either housing or hospitality for the visitors, most of whom come on very limited budgets, will be pursued.

Both guests expressed their appreciation of the funding PYMIC has provided for the symposium and indicated that help may be needed to continue the effort to bring the Lenape peoples into closer communication and cooperation. Specific needs might be for traveling expenses for the representatives to meet with one another. PYMIC expressed gratitude for the comprehensive presentation and the openness of the guests, who then left the meeting to rejoin the committee informally over lunch.

6. The request from Liz Obornsawin, for a video project by the Oneida Nation concerning current home demolition and policy disagreements on their reservation, was reviewed and discussed. Lois Kuter and Nancy Webster had both checked the rival websites, summarized in two handouts which were distributed. Ed Nakawatase reported on insights from NY Friends and the Syracuse office of AFSC. After much discussion of how to help while being evenhanded, the committee approved a tactful letter written by Lois and funding of $1,000 in order to "provide a voice for the voiceless." In addition to the $964 requested the funding includes $36 to cover costs to obtain 2 copies of each tape, "Voices of the Oneida People" and "Voices Update," for PYMIC archives.

7. Discussion of an Indian Committee retreat was deferred, in order not to keep our lunch guests waiting.

The meeting closed with a period of silent worship.


Next meeting: April 13, 2002, 10 AM at Arch Street Meetinghouse.

Respectfully submitted, Nancy Webster