On June 14th, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,  each of our three confederated tribes (The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware, the Nanticoke Indian Tribe) became signatories on the United League of Indigenous Nations Treaty. This is an historic occasion for our three tribes, to be in league with sovereign indigenous nations from around the world. Our tribes joined over 80 other indigenous nations in the ULIN.

Because the signing was done in the United States, the chairman of the ULIN (who is an Odawa Indian), held a pipe ceremony and a charter member of the treaty (a Lummi Indian) sang a prayer song. Presentations were made by a Chippewa-Cree and a Canadian First Nations representative. We were led in an opening prayer by an Alaskan Native representative, and our representative was asked to close the ceremony with prayer.

Perhaps even more important is that this is the first act of our complete Confederation, now that all three tribes are members. And, it was of great historical significance. A single authorized Confederation representative signed the treaty three times, listing each of of the confederated tribes – one by one. Each of our tribes, and our Confederation, is now acknowledged by all of the over 80 nations of the ULIN through this treaty. Our confederation has spoken with a single unified voice on an international matter.

Since the formation of the Confederation of Sovereign Nentego-Lenape Tribes, which began as an intertribal union between our tribe and the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware, there remained one additional tribe which was needed to make the confederation complete, the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Delaware.  Our three tribes share common bloodlines and history.  In May 2011, the Nanticoke unanimously voted at their regular tribal meeting to become full members of the confederation.   This completes our union.  We wholeheartedly welcome our relatives into our Confederation!