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Environmental commission proposes Lenape land‑acknowledgement boulder and plaque for township property
Summary
The Environmental Commission proposed placing a boulder with a land‑acknowledgement plaque honoring the Lenni‑Lenape at the new township building; the commission suggested design input from tribal artists and requested the committee place the item on a future agenda for approval.
Mary Reese, chair of the Montgomery Environmental Commission, presented the commission’s land‑acknowledgement text and a proposal to install a boulder with a plaque at a township site.
Reese read the proposed acknowledgement — "We gather today on the land of the Lehi Lenape" — and said the commission wants the display to be more than symbolic, seeking tribal input on the design. She described outreach to Lenni‑Lenape representatives and a local indigenous artist/architect who might provide renderings for an approximately 11x17 plaque to be mounted on a donated boulder. The commission asked the committee to add the item to a future agenda for formal approval and funding authorization if required.
Why it matters: the proposal aims to create a visible, public recognition of Indigenous caretakers of the land and ties into the township’s open‑space and sustainability goals. Committee members expressed support for moving the idea forward through the appropriate agenda and approval process.
Next steps: the commission will return with design materials and an agenda request; the committee asked staff to identify placement options and cost estimates prior to a vote.
