Indigenous People’s Day Celebrations

This Sunday marked Indigenous Peoples Day, Temple Update spoke with tribal members and has more on celebrations in the city of Philadelphia highlighting native culture.   

The beating of drums and the singing of rain bringers sounds off the Indigenous People’s Day festivities each year at bartram’s garden. 

The festivities have taken place at Bartram’s Garden for fourteen years, the last seven of them have been co-sponsored by Ollin Yoliztil Calmecac, a non-profit ran by Brujo De La Manche, it’s purpose is promote Indigenous Culture throughout the Americas.  

Working together with the park, Ollin Yoliztli Calmecac wants to bring authentic indigenous cultural practices into the spotlight from dancing to food.

Maria Jose Morales Garcia, a volunteer at the festival says that “Corn is very essential in a creation story for a lot of cultural folks in the Americas. So it’s essential that we don’t forget how to make those foods.”

Celebrations on Sunday included various activities from guest speakers, arts & crafts, cultural dances and food as well.

While the festival is loved by many, members of the Lenni Lenape tribe are left wanting more from city leaders. 

Meredith Sanders, a member of the New Jersey Lenni Lenape tribe says”I would love to see the city have more involvement with our tribe. You know, I’m sick of going to Lenape events and being honored and not seeing any Lenape people actually there.”

De La Manche says the festival’s goal is to encourage indigenous involvement he hopes the festival will increase awareness of indigenous history in the city. 

“Our people have been here for centuries, you know thats the reason of the celebration to remind them and however ways somehow, we will keep going.”

Even as the festival winds down celebrations of indigenous culture continue past the fields at Bartram’s Garden. 

“I think it’s my existence itself and knowing that I’m doing my best to keep those practices alive, those cultural practices alive in community, that we’re still here, we’re still standing, we’re still celebrating, and we’re not going anywhere.” says Maria Jose Morales Garcia.

The Land which Temple University was built one belongs to the Lenni Lenape Tribe, in 2018 Temple re-signed a treaty of friendship with the tribe and has a land acknowledgement statement explaining everything.