The Gifts of Quiet Thunder
Keeper of the Gifts, William “JT” Johnson
Exhibition Dates:
Friday, November 3 - Sunday November 26
Opening reception:
Friday, November 3
5:00-7:00 PM
An exhibit exploring Lenape Lifeway Art in the Ancient Gift Economy as taught by Chief Quiet Thunder, Richard Gilbert, whose parents were of the South Jersey Pine Barrens, who served as Chief of Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape in Bridgeton, New Jersey, married into the Millsboro, Delaware Nanticoke, and raised his family among the Cheswold Lenape.
Although there is no word for “art” in the original language of the most southern dialect of Lenapehokink called Unami, there always have been and always will be many gifts made with great intentionality for specific purposes, given with great love, and received with great pride. Demonstrated today through the thriving “pan-indian” culture of potlatch across Turtle Island, here in the “Delaware'' River Valley and Bay our greatest example of that thriving gift economy are The Stories and Gifts of Quiet Thunder.
For this reason a group of friends and family have gathered their stories, photographs, and gifts to continue his legacy of lifting up this Good Way of the Red Path still dear to so many today.
The Stories and Gifts of Quiet Thunder will echo on as friends and family create a traveling display and online museum of Chief Quiet Thunder's gifts to us all forever.