Native American Heritage Month and Rancocas Friends

Crisp November air carried the promise of community and connection as the village of Rancocas gathered at Rancocas Friends Meetinghouse for an evening of dialogue, history, and comfort food in November. It was Native American Heritage Month, and the Rancocas Friends Meeting had organized a special event to honor the occasion.

Fifty-five people, mostly Meeting members and village residents (with some visitors traveling from afar) filled the Meeting to a capacity rarely felt in the 21st century. Conversations hummed with anticipation. The evening’s guest, John Thomas, a Lenni-Lenape elder, stood quietly at the front, his presence radiating warmth, equanimity, and resilience. His life’s journey etched into his stories—a child stripped of his heritage in an orphanage, a soldier navigating the complexities of military service, and an activist for Native rights with the American Indian Movement (AIM).

When John began to speak, the room grew silent, captivated by his reflections on identity, survival, and resistance. He recounted moments of hardship and courage, his voice steady yet tinged with emotion. He spoke of the AIM’s fight for sovereignty and dignity, weaving in anecdotes that brought both laughter and contemplation to his audience.

At a natural pause in his talk, John extended an invitation that spoke to the heart of community: “Sacred act – it’s time to eat.” A scent of homemade chili and apple cider had been teasing the room. Now everyone was invited to partake. Long tables laden with steaming bowls, cookies, and baked goods beckoned the attendees. The warmth of the food mirrored the gathering’s spirit, as neighbors shared stories and laughter over hearty servings of home cooked vittles.

Refueled, many returned to their seats, eager to hear more. John’s second half was intimate and reflective, delving deeper into the legacy of the Lenni-Lenape people and the importance of preserving their culture. His words were a call to action, a reminder that history lives on in the choices and connections of the present. Questions were attentive and compassionate

By the evening’s end, the Meeting House buzzed with a sense of shared histories, new questions and the rising purpose of how this rekindling friendship might lead to testimony. The event was more than a talk or a meal—it was a bridge between past and present, between integrity and disintegration, between Truth and buried Native and settler misunderstanding. For the Meeting and village as attendees drifted into the cool night, they carried with them not only the warmth of chili and cider but also the deeper nourishment of understanding and community.