Living Land Acknowledgement

Maplewood Outside School meets on Lenapehoking.

Lenapehoking is the Lenape name for Lenape land, which spans from Western Connecticut to Eastern Pennsylvania, and the Hudson Valley to Delaware, with Manhattan at its center. Due to centuries of colonialism perpetuated by genocide, forced displacement, and systemic oppression, today the Lenape Diaspora is dispersed throughout the U.S. and Canada (Lenape Center).

As a community we are committed to infuse our curriculum with information about the Lenape. Being in the South Mountain Reservation and walking on the Lenape trail, playing in the water at Hemlock falls, telling stories, and identifying plants are all opportunities to share information about Lenape.

In 2022/23 Maplewood Outside School (MOS) will strive to: 

-Contribute quarterly to The Lenape Center. In 2023 we will increase our contribution to 5% of our tuition.

-Include legends from Native American tribes in our stories

-Include Native American Programs at MOS festivals and functions

-Identify landmarks from the Lenape and learn more about them

-Research and plant a native medicinal garden, make signage to create a learning experience for the community

-Collect donations at school events for I-Collective

-Schedule a meeting in 2023 for our Land Acknowledgement committee to review, reflect and set new goals

-Learn more and deepen our connection to the Lenape Center by providing ongoing education of staff, students and families.