In a column last year, I discussed the efforts of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians in our area to gain formal, bona-fide recognition of their tribal nation by the State of New Jersey. These efforts have taken many twists and turns, with perhaps more to come, but right now the Lenni-Lenape will have their day in court.

That's because, on July 10, a state appeals court reversed a lower-court ruling that had dismissed the tribe's lawsuit, which was filed in Superior Court against the state Attorney General's Office over the state's failure to recognize the tribe.

In 1982, the Legislature, via concurrent resolution, officially recognized the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. The process of official recognition includes providing genealogical records and evidence of self-government, and well as other demonstrations of their status.

Official recognition is a matter of survival in today's world, because it makes tribal nations eligible to receive significant federal grant funding to address a variety of issues impacting native people, including food insecurity, health outcomes, education, workforce readiness and cultural programs.

Since 1982 official state recognition of the Lenni-Lenapi had been reaffirmed in various channels, including the state's Commission on American Indian Affairs in 1995, the New Jersey Secretary of State in 2000, earlier court proceedings in 2005, and a state Committee on Native American affairs in 2007.

That recognition was challenged during the Christie administration because someone decided to "reinterpret" a 2001 amendment to a law covering the state Commission on American Indian Affairs, to indicate that any tribes seeking recognition after 2001 would need specific statutory authorization, not just by resolution. The implication from this new interpretation is that the Nanticoke Lenni-Lanape Nation would essentially have to start from scratch. Aside from being more than unfair, this risks the future well-being of tribal members, since the tribal nation may not have the necessary resources to seek recognition again.

For the Lenni-Lenape people, this boils down to an argument over whether "recognize" is substantially different than "acknowledge." The July 10 appellate decision doesn't mean that the tribe has prevailed, only that it can move ahead with its legal action.

This is worthy of a tiny celebration because the Lenni-Lenape get to have their day in court, but right now that's all it means. We need to stay engaged and we need to keep supporting the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation. This support might come from monetary support for their legal battle, but also through vocal advocacy. The ruling is also worthy of a tiny celebration because of the staggering number of times in our nation's history that native peoples were denied access to an impartial court, or had courts work against them in fighting for basic justice and decency.

A decision to allow the Lenni-Lenape's previous state recognition to stand as "official" will mean they will be eligible immediately to receive the significant outside funding I outlined above. If the tribal nation prospers and thrives, it will benefit our entire area and our local economy.

My hope is that having their day in court will allow this dispute to be settled once and for all in their favor, so that the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation can use its time, energy, and talent to securing the resources needed to deal with the issues at hand.

For example, heart disease is the leading cause of death among native peoples, and they have a greater chance of having diabetes than any other racial group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If the Lenni-Lenape succeed after their day in court, they'll have a shot at having the resources to address these life-and-death issues.

Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton. Contact him by phone at 856-455-3230 Ext. 200.

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