Scranton Story Project Explores History, Heritage and Future of Lenape People
At the keynote lecture by Curtis Zunigha, an expert on Delaware/Lenape culture, language and traditional practices, on The University of Scranton’s campus, from left, are: Jennifer Pennington, administrative assistant in the University’s Office of Equity and Diversity; Julie Schumacher Cohen, assistant vice president for community engagement and government affairs; guest speaker Curtis Zunigha; Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton; and Adam Pratt, Ph.D., associate professor of history.This November, as a part of the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project, Curtis Zunigha, an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians (Oklahoma) and co-founder/co-director of the Lenape Center in New York, came to the city of Scranton to offer a keynote lecture and for a three-day visit to meet with members of both The University of Scranton and greater Scranton Area Communities. Zunigha’s visit to Northeastern PA was a homecoming; the Lenape people are among the original inhabitants of this land.
The keynote lecture took place on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at The University of Scranton with over 300 people in attendance. During the event, Zunigha discussed the “Forced Removal of the Lenape People: History and Homecoming,” sharing the story of his tribe’s displacement, providing insights into the impact of colonization and forced removal, and then discussing current Lenape culture and hopes for the future, including his desire to restore the circle of friendship, respect, and shared occupancy. The recording of this event is now available, along with other Scranton’s Story project recordings, on the University's YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/DnlfnnddwWU
“Mr. Zunigha not only detailed the history of forced removal and contemporary Lenape culture, but challenged us to consider how colonialism and racism continue to be at work in our society and institutions today. It was the opening of an important dialogue to be continued,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, assistant vice president for community engagement and government affairs at the University. “Among the under-told and underrepresented Scranton stories, those of Indigenous peoples, speaking for themselves, have been especially missing,” Cohen continued.
Additional community engagements from this visit included gatherings with The University of Scranton and community leaders, government officials, members of the media, and community stakeholders who met with Zunigha at the Everhart Museum in Scranton to discuss opportunities for cultivating a welcoming community to encourage the further return to the area for its original inhabitants. Last year, the University adopted a land acknowledgement statement which includes the Lenape as among those Indigenous peoples for whom Northeastern Pennsylvania is their ancestral homeland:
The University of Scranton acknowledges the original inhabitants and nations of this land: the Lenape, the Munsee, the Shawnee and the Susquehannocks. May we be ever mindful of their legacy and contributions and commit ourselves to stewarding this land with care and compassion as we navigate our communities towards faith and justice.
This event was a part of the Scranton's Story, Our Nation's Story project’s third theme, “The Indigenous History of NEPA” and the project is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The event was a collaboration with several University and community partners. Among them, the University’s history department and Office of Equity and Diversity, and community partners, including the Black Scranton Project, Lackawanna County Arts & Culture Department, The Lackawanna Historical Society, Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area, Scranton Public Library, and WVIA.
Visit www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory for more information. Additional information about this visit can be found in a related Royal News story and from the project’s media partner, WVIA, including an interview with Zunigha by Erika Funke.
