Manhattan: The Lenape's Struggle for Recognition and Property

Manhattan: The Lenape's Struggle for Recognition and Property

Amid New York City's 400th anniversary celebrations in 2023, the Lenape Native American Tribe is raising its voice and demanding recognition as the rightful residents and owners of Manhattan for over a decade. This demand is part of a larger discourse on decolonization and land access that is receiving increasing attention in the United States. The Lenape, also known as the “Original People,” view the myth of the Dutch purchasing Manhattan for $24 as a fraud and speak of historical injustices involving genocide and dispossession, such as [Welt](https://www.welt.de/kultur/article256104350/Dekolonisierung- Amerikas-Wem-gehoert-Manhattan-Der-Streit-um-New-Yorks-wahren-Ursprung.html) reports.

To illustrate the history of the Lenape of Manhattan and their cultural significance, the platform 6sqft describes ten locations in the city that are reminiscent of their indigenous past. These include Broadway, which was originally a trade route, and Washington Square Park, a historic meeting place. These sites are not only part of history, but also key points for understanding Indigenous identity and the struggle for recognition in contemporary society.

The fight for recognition and ecological justice

The Lenape now live largely outside of New York City, particularly in New Jersey, Oklahoma and Ontario, and many of them belong to the Delaware Nation. But the 200,000 Native Americans who live in New York City are part of a larger movement aimed at amplifying indigenous voices and honoring cultural heritage. The largest powwow on the East Coast takes place every year on the Hudson River and institutions such as the Redhawk Council and the National Museum of the American Indian play a central role in making indigenous cultures visible.

A petition aimed at replacing the narrative of the historic plaque describing the purchase of Manhattan has already garnered 995 signatures. In addition, an exhibition focusing on the return of the Lenape opened at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum. The Decolonizing New York City project also offers virtual tours of indigenous sites and promotes understanding of the culture of the Lenape and other indigenous tribes.

Historical continuity and modern challenges

The discourse about the right to land and the recognition of indigenous cultures is reinforced by current discussions about environmentally friendly practices and agriculture that does justice to their complexity. As explained by [bpb](https://www.bpb.de/themen/nord Amerika/usa/510441/recht-auf-land-indigene-gesellschaft-und-der-siedlerkoloniismus/), indigenous ways of life were often distorted in order to support the legitimization of colonial land grabs. The idea that indigenous peoples are “nomadic” has served as a justification for the expropriation of their lands and the ongoing injustices they have suffered.

The first steps towards returning from land are being initiated, but there is still a lot to do. Universities like Harvard and Stanford recognize that their institutions are on indigenous lands, but concrete returns have so far been lacking. Offers of support from institutions such as New York University and Columbia University are often symbolic and do not go deep enough into the complex issue of restitution and recognition.

The ongoing struggle of the Lenape and other indigenous communities calls on society to confront the past and find faster and more sustainable solutions to the challenges of today. The road to justice is long, but the voices of the native population are unmistakable and demand recognition and respect.