"Once Upon A Time In New Jersey"
Nulelìntàm èli paàn.
Welcome.
Quill Keepers is a digital archive and educational platform dedicated to Indigenous history and living Native communities in New Jersey. The site brings together primary sources, oral histories, curated readings, and community led projects to make accurate, respectful information accessible to students, educators, and the public.
Interactive Maps
Written Works
Culinary Recipes
Chef Joe Rocchi, a Pamunkey Tribe citizen and acclaimed Culinary Director, brings over two decades of expertise to the revival of Indigenous food traditions. His work, featured on PBS and across Philadelphia’s culinary scene, celebrates food as a living expression of sovereignty and culture.
Literature
This collection highlights novels endorsed by the New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs and other notable Indigenous scholars and historians. Each selection offers insight into the Lenape and other Native nations of New Jersey, exploring their history, culture, and ongoing presence in the region. Together, these readings provide a thoughtful foundation for understanding Indigenous heritage and its vital role in shaping New Jersey’s past and future.
NJAIC Newsletters
These newsletters share updates, initiatives, and stories from the New Jersey Commission on American Indian Affairs, highlighting Indigenous voices, community events, and ongoing efforts across the state. They offer insight into current work, historical preservation, and advocacy, providing a clear window into how Native communities in New Jersey continue to shape public life today.
Sand Hill Indians
Featuring Claire Garland
Claire Garland is the founder and director of the Sand Hill Indian Historical Association, an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Sand Hill Lenape people of Monmouth County, New Jersey. A Lenape elder and lifelong educator, she has spent years collecting, documenting, and sharing her community’s two-hundred-year history through public exhibits, educational programs, and museum collaborations. Under her leadership, the Sand Hill Indian Historical Association has brought long-overlooked Indigenous stories into state museums, classrooms, and cultural initiatives.
Beyond Acknowledgement
In New Jersey, many schools and organizations now begin with land acknowledgements—but to the outsider, how much do we really know about the Indigenous tribes who have lived here for centuries? The answer, more often than not, is: not much. A lot of information is scattered, outdated, or buried on websites that are hard to find or no longer work. That’s why we created Quill Keepers—to bring together reliable, organized, and easy-to-use resources about New Jersey’s tribes, so that learning and respect can go hand in hand.
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~ Derek Chen, Founder