An apology for centuries of wrong

Hudson’s 400th anniversary viewed in a different light New York — On the day after Thanksgiving, nationwide representatives of the Lenni Lenape Tribe, including a chief who makes his home in Milford, gathered in New York City to accept an apology. They met with representatives of the Collegiate Church of New York City in Lower Manhattan’s Bowling Green, at the place where Henry Hudson and other Dutch explorers first established their fort, which would become New Amsterdam. About 300 to 400 people witnessed the ceremony on the cold and blustery morning. Chiefs and elders from Canada, Ohio, Oklahoma, the boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas came to accept the apology from the descendants of the Dutch settlers’ church, that was the first non-native religious institute in the New World. They apologized for the wrongs caused by the settlers to the natives and witnessed what is hoped to be the beginning of a new era of reconciliation, friendship, and co-operation. Chief Dr. Medicine Crow Holloway, Principal Chief of the local Sand Hill band of the Lenapes, attended the ceremony with his son Roy Holloway, the chairman of the band, and grandson, all of whom live in Milford. Roy delivered the Lenape response to the offered apology. The Lenapes occupied the region before the arrival of Europeans, and their descendants still live here, although many got scattered around the continent. Would the apology lead to more positive relations between the two sets of people, and has something shifted? “I sure hope so,” said Dr. Holloway. Paula Pechonik, an elder who had traveled from Oklahoma to the ceremony, felt it was a very positive ceremony. “There is a healing spirit here,” she added. Petchonic said they had been talking and praying, and that it was a total surprise when they heard of the initiative. The ceremony, called “Healing Turtle Island”, in honor of the Lenapes’ ancient name for America, consisted of back and forth addresses between the representatives of both groups, as well as the offering of symbolic pouches containing wampum or strings of beads to each of the chiefs, in the ancient tradition used by the natives to seal treaties. The Lenapes say that no one has ever offered an apology to them before. “Natives are third-class citizens in this country,” said Dr. Holloway. Reverend Robert Chase, a Collegiate Minister said, “We were complicit in imposing an alien culture and economic system on the Lenape that caused great suffering and it is fitting that we acknowledge our role in this history. That’s what today is all about.” The results of these were devastating to the native communities, and the repercussions are still with us in today’s society, said Ron Holloway. The Collegiate of New York City hope to continue their reaching out to the natives in the city area, to help establish “important social interactions with each other”, advocacy and help. Both cultures have much to learn from each other, said the Collegiate representatives. New York City has the largest number of Native Americans in the whole of the USA according to census numbers. According to the address given by Ron Holloway on behalf of the whole group, the natives became invisible to the dominant society, and they were not even granted US citizenship until 1924, and it took until 1970’s for them to be allowed to practice their religion legally. Broadway, running through Manhattan, was once called “Trail of Hope”, and attendees said a new vision of understanding and co-operation was taking shape in the first-of-its-kind ceremony. The Collegiate’ address included the following passage: “We consumed your resources, dehumanized your people, and disregarded your culture, along with your dreams, hopes and great love for this land… …We honor your vision and wish to walk together on this new ‘Trail of Hope’.” A Collegiate representative and organizer Suy Park said that they realized the voice of the Native Americans has not been heard sufficiently in the ongoing 400-year anniversary celebrations of Hudson’s voyage, and they wished to correct that, coming up with the idea for the day’s events. The address by the Collegiate said, “Many of the difficulties in our own culture are in need of your wisdom.” The ceremony coincided with the first Native American Heritage Day that President Obama declared last June as a time to honor Native American culture and contributions to this country. Rev. Chase emphasized that their initiative was not intended to be a one-time event, but a symbolic spiritual beginning of a new era of appreciation of each other. The native representatives accepted the apology, and pledged friendship and continuing effort at reconciliation. Native drumming in a circle and wooden flute music completed the ceremony. The Sand Hill band of the Lenapes includes members who live in the northern parts of New Jersey, in and around the Milford area. They continue to practice their customs and culture, and speak their language.