Munsee Wolf Clan to Collaborate on Schunnemunk Trail & Indigenous Culture Center with OC Legislature
Updated: 1 day ago
In the quiet of a Hudson Valley morning, elder tribe members of the Munsee Wolf Clan Indigenous People would rise and walk along the footpath called Schunnemunk (which means "Excellent Fireplace") in honor of the excellent council fires they built on the flat boulders to keep warm while they discussed current matters of importance on the hilltops and in the Moodna Valley below. They are one of the 3 Ramapough branches, of Lenni Lenapi Indigenous Native American groups, 3 separate branches which are each assigned different purposes and tasks. These Munsee Wolf Clan Native Americans were one of many Wolf Clan representatives across the continent, named for the place they settled, in this instance "Place of small stones", which is what the word "Munsee" means, and which in this region of the Hudson Valley was the Schunnemunk Ridge.
Across from my farm in Blooming Grove the Schunnemunk Ridge fills the
entire background. Round Hill sits in front of it.
In the 1690's when the Munsee were the first who interacted with colonial settlers in the area having moved Northward from Delaware, many suffered displacement like other Indigenous tribes and were forced Westward, in one instance after a rigged contest when colonial racers beat them by turning it into a relay race for their contestants won by fresh rested runners, while the Munsee runners each ran the entire race.
The good news is that there are still a relatively small but strong number of Munsee descendants living in the area, and they are passionate about sharing their history, culture, art, knowledge and wise understanding of nature and connection with the earth we live on and depend upon. In a recent Indigenous videot an Indigenous man asks “How is it that we became known as “Wild Indians? We never even had a concept of 'wild', because we are all part of the same earth and universe."
But over the past century members of Indigenous Peoples have become especially respected because of their environmental and social understandings. This year saw the first Indigenous Governor of Texas and six Native Americans were elected as representatives in the US House and Senate. They also have increasingly strong leaders actively fighting helicopter horse roundups resulting in deaths during the roundups and ending up at slaughter plants. Both in the Eastern parts of the US and in the West they have reclaimed sovereignty of thousands of acres where American Heritage Wild Horses are now beginning a new life, including many who had been separated from their very young foals.
COLLABORATIVE FUTURE SEEN FOR SCHUNNEMUNK RAIL
TRAIL AND A NEW INDIGENOUS CULTURE CENTER
Hundreds of years after their struggles with new inhabitants, in 2026 at the adjacent Village of Goshen Orange County Government Center, this week Munsee descendant tribe members came to a monthly regional meeting of Orange County leaders called legislators, They came to encourage collaboration on regional shared projects of importance: Continued renewal and upgrading of the Schunnemunk Rail Trail footing which extends from the Chester/Blooming Grove border of the new County Park (at former Camp LaGuardia) to the Schunnemunk Ridge and via new construction by West Point cadets eastward will soon have additional new links to the Newburgh Waterfront and the popular Appalachian Trail. The Munsee Wolf Clan members ARE the historic Indigenous Peoples of the Schunnemunk.Ridge and the valley beneath it.
This past year the Open Space Institute and Orange County Land Trust
celebrated the opening of the current North quadrant of the Schunnelmunk
Rail Trail. Attendees were invited to walk the new Trail with the officials.
Three Munsee Wolf Clan Indigenous People and myself came to the Orange County Government Center to Invite Orange County Legislators and Conservation groups to Collaborate with them on development of the new Schunnemunk Rail Trail, New County Park and an exciting plan for an Indigenous Culture Center currently planned on 22 acres in Hamptonburgh, a 5-Year Plan for a historic Munsee "Roundhouse or Longhouse" structure, as well as an art & education center that will hold events to share local indigenous history, traditions, agricultural and art techniques, beading and fashion, and the meaning, skills and fun of Hoop Dancing traditions.
Legislature members were excited and received the invitation very enthusiastically and about 5 of them approached the Project team members after the meeting to learn more and offer help. Steve Hunter, who is a member of the Orange County Land Trust Board of Directors as well as a Legislator, was given a collection of informational details, flyers and the 5-year Plan, and Virginia Scott offered to contact Hamptonburgh about the potential for an open space grant for a portion of the Culture Center site.
In a small twist of fate the Munsee representatives did not know they needed to sign up to speak at the podium (my error), so I introduced them to the legislature who gave a warm greeting and I presented the project proposal. The Legislature's welcoming response was heartwarming and so enthusiastic, several saying it was an awesome relief to have a positive view for the future after an hour of discussing very serious business of the month. They were so encouraging that I let go a little secret and asked "What would you think about us meeting with Steve Neuhaus, Alan Sorensen, Tom Faggione, Steven Hunter, who is on the Board of Directors of the Land Trust and grew up in Blooming Grove where most of this new Trail is located, and the Open Space Institute to arrange a performance by one of the top Indigenous Hoop Dancers and several of his Associates in the Schunnemunk Meadow under the Moodna Trestle. The response, "I'M IN" and joyous laughter.
One of my favorites of Margaret "Dolly"'s pieces of art,
of which there are many. Her sister Joyce is a clay pottery expert.
At our first Munsee Wolf Clan Meeting Margaret's son Jason came
wearing some of his Indigenous jewelry. Take a closer look at those bear claws!
County Exec, Steve Neuhaus, Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen,
and Parks Commissioner Travis Ewald at the first of several bridges
along the Schunnemunk Trail in Blooming Grove needing repair.
The first of the Trail branches through Blooming Grove has been
bulldozed and leveled. (It is not open for hiking yet).
In the US there are about eleven Indigenous Culture Centers, many which offer Hoop Dancing to groups of youth in addition to other historic culture sessions. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know others with similar cultural background.
Will there be Munsee Pow-Wows in the future? Very likely! Indigenous painting on horses?... well 2 of my horses say "No way".... the 3rd says "Of course".
When the Legislative Session ended, about 5 attendees approached the group, applauding the effort, offering help and wanting more information. Legislator Virginia Scott of Cornwall kindly offered to talk to Supervisor, Robert Jankowski of Hamptonburgh and discuss whether there might be Open Space Funding for a portion of the propertty that could help the project during its early stages.
When the session was over I handed Margaret a gift I had received at a
Pow Wow in North Dakota when my nephews went for their Naming
Ceremony, being part Indigenous. The long painted blue horse she is
holding is representativeof what Indigenous Peoples call a "Talking Stick", i.e. meaning "It's your turn to be leader now." (of course this was symbolic, she and Danny Dennison were the leaders of the day). Up along the Schunnemunk this is one of the ways the Munsee held meetings that showed them to have a democracy, perhaps the first democracy in the Eastern part of America.
We will be back at Legislative Sessions regularly to give updates. Stay tuned for the Schunnemunk Ridge Munsee Wolf Clan Website, now in development.
Munsee Local Leaders, Margaret DeGroat, Joyce DeGroat, Liz DeVinko and Danny Dennison who is the Munsee Representative on the Ramapough Lenape Nation Tribal Council.
By Edie Johnson
Executive Editor
Orange County Courier Journal
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