Sacred Earth: Environmental Justice, Indigenous Knowledge, Sustainable Futures

Ashton, rooted in the traditions of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape people from Delaware and New Jersey, will share insights into Indigenous identity and its deep connection to land and waters. This tour will challenge misconceptions, showcasing the resilience and sovereignty of Indigenous communities, particularly her own tribal nation. As Ashton says, “We ask you to hear our stories again, after centuries of environmental destruction and colonial exploitation.”

Ashton Pemapanik Dunkley is a Jamaican and Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape interdisciplinary historian, university instructor, and Ph.D. Candidate (University of Minnesota). Born and raised in the southernmost tidewaters of Lenapehoking—her ancestral homeland which is currently known as Delaware and New Jersey— Ashton’s scholarship uplifts the often overlooked histories of her Black and Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape ancestors. She writes and teaches about topics such as: Native American Studies, Black Studies, Black and Indigenous Feminisms, Race & Identity, Settler Colonialism, Environmental Justice, Water, and Public Memory.