Native American and Indigenous Students

To honor the rich legacy of indigenous peoples, ESU named residence halls after Native tribes: Lenape, Minsi, and Shawnee.

Memorandum of Understanding with the Delaware Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

In September 2018, ESU and the Delaware Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma entered into a partnership hoping to provide education surrounding Native American culture, and eventually produce a scholarship for Native American students to be able to return to spaces their tribe formerly inhabited.

As part of the MOU, The Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma moved their Eastern Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Eastern Office to ESU, and the office is now located on the fourth floor of Stroud Hall. This partnership has enabled collaboration between the tribe and ESU students, faculty, and staff. The MOU creates opportunities for archeologist's, historians, and others to strengthen interdisciplinary programs and develop new ones. Other opportunities include undergraduate research, distance learning, and grant funding.

In 2003, the United States Congress ratified May 1 as a day of recognition to honor Tammany (Tamanend or Tammamend), the “affable” (c. 1628–c. 1698). Tammany was a chief of one of the Lenape clans in the Delaware Valley at the time Philadelphia was established. He is known as a lover of peace, proponent of friendship, fairness, justice, and equality. Tammany participated in a meeting between the leaders of the Lenape and the leaders of the Pennsylvania colony reputedly held under a large elm tree at Shackamaxon (Fishtown, Philadelphia) in the early 1680s. His above-named attributes placed him in a pivotal role to help establish peaceful relations among the Native American tribes and the English settlers led by William Penn.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush declared November as Native American Heritage Month. This month-long celebration provides an opportunity for us to learn about Native American/Indigenous cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions. It also affords us an opportunity to learn about colonization, displacement, and genocide experienced by Native American/Indigenous communities throughout history.

While a violent legacy of global colonization has imposed devastating conditions on Native American/Indigenous communities worldwide, many continue to fight for justice and resist oppressive circumstances. To educate the public, every November, Native American/Indigenous activists, poets, story tellers, culture bearers, and tribal leaders organize countless events showcasing their rich and diverse cultures and histories.