Temple Athletics DE&I Newsletter
November 2021
This Month with DE&I - National Native American Indigenous Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the traditions, achievements, and contributions of Native Americans and Indigenous People. President George H.W. Bush approved the Joint Resolution (104 Stat. 391 (1990)) designating Native American Heritage Month in 1990. Subsequent presidents have issued proclamations each year since the mid-1990s.
Mine the Temple University library collection for more information about Native American history.
Native American Indigenous Heritage Month and the Culture it Honors
spirit animal, tribe, squaw, Eskimo, Indian
If you’ve ever used one of these words or phrases in casual conversation please read this short article and challenge yourself to remove them from your vocabulary: https://matadornetwork.com/read/indigenous-language-stop-appropriating/
A Ceremony to Heal the Land and Heart
Read about the Healing Ceremony conducted at Temple’s Ambler campus in the aftermath of the tornado in early September.
Learn more about the Lenape Nation: https://www.lenape-nation.org/
“The Lenape people are the original inhabitants of Delaware, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Southern New York. For over 10,000 years they have been the caretakers of these lands and of The River of Human Beings, more commonly known as the Delaware River. The Lenape were the first tribe to sign a treaty with the United States and the first tribe to have land set aside for them in New Jersey…. The history of the Lenape is truly the history of Pennsylvania.”
Important Days in November
Nov 11 - Veterans Day
Nov 13 - World Kindness Day
Nov 17 - World Peace Day
Nov 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance
Entire Month - National Native American Indigenous Heritage Month
Nov 28 - Hanukkah
November Events & Campus Resources:
Temple University Library Resources - https://guides.temple.edu/edi/nativeamerican
Free Library Of Philadelphia: Celebrate Native American Heritage Month With These Author Events, Podcasts & Videos (link)
Why Do We Call It That?
Many of the words we see and use daily in Philadelphia have their roots in the native Lenape language.
Schuylkill - “hidden river”
Manayunk - “place where we go to drink” due to the location of the town on the banks of the Schuylkill River
Passyunk - “in the valley”
Aramingo - “wolf walk” after a long-vanished stream that used to be home to large packs of wolves
Susquehanna - The river, which runs from upstate New York all the way to the Chesapeake Bay, takes its name from “Siskëwahane,” meaning “mile wide, foot deep.”
Wissahickon - The valley, avenue and creek all take their name from “wisameckham,” meaning “catfish stream.”
Shackamaxon - “Place of the council.” The site of this Lenape village, now in Fishtown, is home to Penn Treaty Park, where the aforementioned William Penn purportedly signed his famous peace agreement with Lenape chief Tamanend.
Want to Keep Learning?
To Watch:
30 Stories for 30 Days of Native American Heritage Month
(videos range from 5-10 minutes to 60+)
To Follow:
@ipdphilly - Indigenous Peoples' Day Philly
Quote of the Month:
"I'm hoping that through our songs and ceremonies that people gain an understanding of the connections between everything. It's tough to be a two-legged, because we're taught that we are greater than everything else and that's just not how it should be. We are part of everything. We are equal to the smallest ant, the greatest eagle — we're all connected."
- Adam Waterbear DePaul at the Temple Ambler Healing Ceremony
Tribal Council Member & Storykeeper of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania
Temple Athletics DE&I Committee
Read entire position statement here.
Email: ath-dei@temple.edu
Website: https://owlsports.com/sports/dei?path=dei
Location: Temple University, North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA