EXPERIMENTAL ELECTIVE TOPICS - A TERM

The central Lenape idea of Lankuntuwakan comprises relationship, kinship, peace and a deeper understanding of well-being: We are made of the Earth, the sun, and each other; we exist through our composition of these parts. These aspects of ourselves are essential to our existence, both as individuals and organized societies, and our relation to them determines our well-being. Lankuntuwakan is the ancient Lenape way of life which still informs culture and actions for wellbeing. Two contemporary streams of thinking and actions, that of living Land acknowledgment (as restorative practice and restorative justice) and (re)generative cultures are largely aligned with Lankuntuwakan. In our time of globalization, climate change, indigenous resurgence and concentration camps, Lankuntuwakan is all the more relevant as a means to inform solutions. The goal for the course is for students to emerge as connected, informed, courageous, more compassionate individuals with unique capabilities realized to better support both Indigenous and nonindigenous peoples and Earth. The following themes are largely the result our work with Lenape Center. The articles and books assigned are complimentary to the themes and serve to emphasize primary source knowing. Each theme will be explained with historical context and contemporary examples. These themes are not mutually exclusive, but on the contrary, are interwoven and interconnected.