REGION — On August 24, 2002, a historic event took place at the Pennsbury Manor, the former estate of William Penn in Morrisville, PA. It marked a new beginning of friendship between the Lenape people of Pennsylvania and the people who neighbor the Delaware River, the Lenape Nation wrote recently in a news release.

The Treaty of Renewed Friendship was signed by the Lenape and a number of organizations and individuals who wished to actively support Lenape culture and to act as good stewards of their sacred Delaware River and homelands, the release continued.

To commemorate and promulgate the treaty, the signing was coupled with a three-week canoe journey, which began at the top of the Delaware River in Hancock, NY and culminated in Cape May, NJ.

Members of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania welcomed supporters to paddle along with them, and they stopped along the river to hold signings of the treaty and offer programs about Lenape culture and presence.

Treaty-signers could offer presentations on stewarding the environment and promoting awareness of Lenape culture. 

It was agreed that the re-signing of the treaty, as well as the river journey, would take place every four years; the journey and re-signing continued in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

In fact, during the 2022 journey—which marked the 20-year anniversary of the journey and treaty—over 130 organizations, including environmental groups, colleges and universities, mayors, faith-based organizations and historical societies, as well as over 300 individuals, signed the Treaty of Renewed Friendship, the Lenape wrote. 

“These wonderful relationships have resulted in continuous collaborations to help combat the erasure of the Lenape People in their homelands and protect the lands, wildlife and waterways of the Lenapehokink,” the tribe continued.

The 2026 journey will take place in August. “All are welcome to join us on the river, and all committed individuals and organizations are invited to sign the Treaty of Renewed Friendship,” the release continued.

Stay updated at www.lenape-nation.org/riverjourneytreaty.