The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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MAHWAH, NJ — Former Ramapough Lenape Nation Principal Chief Dwaine Perry, unseated in June, has filed a complaint in Bergen County Superior Court seeking to reclaim his leadership role over the 5,000-member tribe.
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MAHWAH, NJ — A long-running leadership dispute within the Ramapough Lenape Nation escalated Tuesday when Chief Dwaine Perry was arrested on a trespassing charge at the Ramapough Community Center, Mahwah police confirmed.
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Mahwah NJ, in a landmark achievement, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey has been honored with the 2024 National Land Trust Excellence Award for establishing New Jersey’s first Indigenous land trust. This historic milestone, marked by the preservation of the 54-acre Split Rock Mountain sacred to the Ramapough Lenape Nation, has catapulted the organization into national recognition. The prestigious award was presented by the Land Trust Alliance at the National Land Conservation Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, this past September.
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Mahwah NJ, backpack and school supply donation drive for the Ramapough children! ,Ramapough Lenape Nation is collecting bookbags and school supply donations for children of the Ramapough Lenape Nation. Please reach out if you or any organizations you know would like to donate.
contact: cdefreese@ramapoughmunseenation.org
Continue reading Ramapough Lenape Nation : Backpack and School Supply Donation Drive
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Mahwah NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced today that New Jersey has entered into separate settlement agreements with the Powhatan Renape Nation and the Ramapough Lenape Nation by which the State acknowledges it has officially recognized the two tribes as American Indian Tribes since 1980.
Under the settlements, the State agrees that New Jersey’s recognition is intended to qualify the tribes for all federal and state benefits and services for which State-recognized tribes are eligible. Among those benefits and services are “all privileges provided by the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.”
Continue reading NJ Acknowledges Historic Recognition of Powhatan Renape, Ramapough Lenape Nations
November 18.2017
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Mahwah NJ, Superior Court judge Roy F. McGeady ruled on Friday that the Ramapough Lenape Nation had violated local zoning laws when they erected tepees on its Mahwah property. In his decision the judge rejected the tribe’s arguments that they had a constitutional right to the tepees, which are used in religious ceremonies. While the judge issued his ruling supporters of the Ramapough Lenape Nation wore red in solidarity .
Judge Roy F. McGeady explained ,“There’s a big difference between praying on the property or conducting religious ceremonies, and creating a structure to do a religious ceremony – a church, a cathedral,”
McGeady ordered the tribe to pay more than $13,000 in fines for summonses issued on the tepee violations. However, he threw out additional summonses accusing the tribe of moving soil and erecting a renewable energy system without permission. The ruling ends a year-long Mahwah Indian War saga that began with a small colony of tepees placed on the tribe’s Halifax Road property last fall.
Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp was formed in October of 2016 in solidarity with the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Led by Ramapough Lenape Nation, the camp was erected to educate the public on the impending crises of the AIM and Pilgrim pipelines that threaten the local water supply in our region. Pipeline ruptures cause severe damage to our sacred waters and endanger our families and wildlife. Even with these dangers, Spectra Company is still pushing for the AIM and Pilgrim pipelines to be completed.
let the healing begin
September 26,2017
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Ramapough Lenape Nation , Join us for an early celebration of the 1 year Anniversary of Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp on Sunday, October 1st from 12-5pm. Bring food (potluck!), games, family, and friends as we celebrate and recognize the entire community we have built over the last year.
– Tobacco Ceremony (12pm)
– Potluck (bring a dish!)
– Beading workshops (11am and 3pm)
– Artisans
– Community Building
On October 16, 2016, the Ramapough Lenape Nation and supporters erected teepees on their ceremonial grounds at 95 Halifax Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 in solidarity with Standing Rock and to resist the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline.
Since then, indigenous groups from all over the world, environmentalists, and allies have come together in prayer and solidarity for protection of the land and waters. Come out and join us for a huge celebration!
Sunday at 12 PM – 5 PM
Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp
95 Halifax Road, Mahwah, New Jersey
Tom Nobile , Staff Writer, @TomNobile
MAHWAH — Two leaders of the Ramapough Lenape Nation have been charged with criminal mischief after an investigation into vandalism at the Polo Club, a residential development next to the tribe’s property.
Tribe member Steven D. Smith, 29, is accused of tampering with a neighborhood surveillance camera by trying to turn the lens to a different view, according to police. He was driven to the scene by Chief Dwaine Perry, police said.
file photo
Tom Nobile , Staff Writer, @TomNobile5:16 p.m. EST December 23, 2016
The tribe has also been charged with moving soil without permission.
MAHWAH — The Ramapough Lenape Nation must go to court to fight summonses issued by the township alleging that the Native American tribe erected teepees and tents on a property off Halifax Road without permission.
