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Philadelphia and its people have a long history – and it predates the “official” beginnings of our nation in 1776.
The first Indigenous Americans reached America no earlier than about 21,000 years ago, according to different accounts and studies.
The story of the Indigenous peoples of Philadelphia is adapted from the first written emergence story of the Lenape in 1679 – or how one Lenape elder explained Lenape creation and belief systems to a European missionary.
It begins with the emergence of Turtle and the earth that formed on its back. Soon after, the first tree grew and the first sprouts that eventually became the First Man and First Woman.
Before colonization, the major native American Indian tribes in what is now Pennsylvania were the Lenape, Susquehannock, Shawnee and Iroquois. And in what would later become Philadelphia, those original peoples that inhabited the area were the Lenape.
The Lenape territory encompassed areas stretching across the current Northeast – including New York City and parts of Delaware, Connecticut and New Jersey. Over time, Lenape tribes engaged in cultural and commercial exchanges with European colonists as they began to explore the U.S.
But, as time went on, things went off the tracks, and tribes got pushed out, said Ben Scott Miller, a registered Native American from the Delaware Tribe of Indians, a federally recognized tribe of the Lenape People in Oklahoma.
Miller created this week’s Firstival sculpture.
He said this year’s recognition of the First Peoples does not have a specific date for its start.
He said this Firstival is a way to raise awareness about these tribes and their continuing presence and impact in communities.
“We go back about 10,000 to 20,000 years before colonization and before William Penn came here to the United States,” he said. “So that’s why there’s no day. Because it’s open. We’re still alive, and we’re people. My inspiration really was to build a bridge with our communities again.”
Miller added that a big part of this celebration is engaging with the community and reminding people of Indigenous peoples’ history and impact.
“The biggest piece of the puzzle that’s missing in the United States today is the indigenous community,” he said. “I really feel that for us to heal as a nation, as an American nation, with what’s going on right now, is to participate and that all of us participate.”
Relating the present to the past
As a member and representative of the Lenape tribe, Miller said the group’s work to connect with others in Philly is just beginning – but is something he hopes will evolve over time.
“It’s our homeland, and I wanted to be able to open the bridges and start communication again after 250 years, after the Indian Removal Act,” he said. “So our goal is to start communication with the community here, maybe build something together, build bridges, and develop something together, and start slowly bringing our community back to our homelands.”
He said this involves educating others about the true history of the start of America as it relates to Indigenous peoples.
“I really think it’s important that we share the true story of the Delaware People and the true story of how the city was founded between William Penn and Chief Tamaned, and that’s how ‘Brotherly’ started,” he said. “We were supposed to agree together or work together at that point, and something got off the tracks, and we’re here to rebuild it.”
The Penn Museum recently opened a gallery centered around this impact, said Tena Thomason, the associate director of public engagement at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
“We opened a new gallery in November, our Native North American Gallery, which has eight Indigenous curators in there and that centers the Indigenous voice in the exhibit,” she said.
She said the Firstival will help to elevate this exhibit, as well as the voices of Indigenous peoples and communities.
“Our Firstival is celebrating the First Peoples,” she said. “So we’re really centering our program around Indigenous art and artisans, with workshops celebrating the new installation.”
This week’s Firstival highlights the Indigenous peoples of America and will feature workshops, dancing, art activities, and more.
It will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Penn Museum at 3260 South St.
Below is more info on all of this year’s Firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Week 30: American art school (1805)
Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Week 31: Zoo in America (1874)
Week 32: U.S. Mint (1793)
Week 33: Selfie (1839)
Week 34: Slinky (1943)
Week 35: Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Week 36: Continental Congress (1774)
Week 37: Naming of the United States (1776)
Week 38: Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Week 39: Penitentiary in America (1829)
Upcoming
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
