The Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp is located near the banks of the Ramapo River in Mahwah, New Jersey. Photo: Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp

Environment | Federal Recognition | Law | National

Ramapough Lunaape Nation goes to court to protect prayer camp

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Citing a “historical pattern and practice of harassment,” the Ramapough Lunaape Nation has filed a lawsuit in federal court in order to protect a prayer camp on ancestral land in New Jersey.

The tribe named the town of Mahwah and the Ramapo Hunt and Polo Club, a homeowner’s association, as defendants. The complaint accuses them of trying to prevent the tribe and its allies from using the Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp for ceremonies and other activities.

“The Ramapough Lenape Nation is being attacked by the town of Mahway and the Polo Club,” the complaint, which was filed on Monday, reads.

Picture of a vehicle with individuals reportedly shouting in an intimidating manner at a woman on the tribal land today....
Posted by Split Rock Sweetwater Prayer Camp on Tuesday, May 8, 2018

A May 8, 2018, post on Facebook cited a recent incident as part of "a long history of harassment and hate crimes against the Ramapough" in New Jersey.

The tribe established the camp last year as part of opposition to the proposed Pilgrim oil pipelines. The site consists of tepees, tents and other structures.

For that reason, the town claims the tribe needs a permit. But since the tribe lacks one, the town has issued daily fines of $12,500, retroactive to March, NJ.com reported. As of Tuesday, the fines totaled $492,000, the site said.

"They deny that we're sovereign. They deny that we're indigenous. They refer to our stone altar as pile of rocks," a Ramapough citizen who goes by Owl told NJ.Com. "They're attacking us."

The Ramapough Lunaape Nation owns the land where the camp is located but is not afforded any type of sovereignty under New Jersey law. The tribe also lacks federal recognition.

The state has claimed there are no recognized tribes within its borders, an issue that is the subject of litigation being pursued by the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation.

The name of the prayer camp comes from the Munsee language. Ramapough means "sweet water," according to the tribe.

Read More on the Story:
Indian tribe being fined $12,500 a day for using prayer ground (NJ Advance Media for NJ.com May 16, 2018)
NJ Town Hauled Into Court by Ramapough Nation (Courthouse News Service May 15, 2018)