Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware inspired by change

News Release

Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware

Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware’s Tribal Council would like to congratulate Robin R. Christiansen on his election victory as Principal Chief. He was unanimously voted into office by tribal citizens on November 17, 2020. Christiansen succeeds former Principal Chief Dennis Coker and was sworn into office during a Special Session of the Tribal Council held November 29, 2022.

“It is a great honour to have been chosen to serve the citizens of the Lenape Tribe of Delaware,” saysChief Christiansen. “It also is a great privilege to honour our ancestors and the legacy they have left us. It must be our job to honour our legacy and share that history with our tribal citizens and our community neighbours. We shall work to add tribal membership and train future leaders to continue to promote the rich heritage and history that has been a great part of Delaware and our Country.”

Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware Principal Chief Robin Christiansen is currently Mayor of the City of Dover, Delaware, having taken his oath of office in 2014. Mayor Christiansen was first elected in May 1983 to serve on the City Council and served as Council President and Vice Mayor from May 1990 to May 2001. He has served as President of the Delaware League of Local Government and is currently a member of the Executive Board. He has also served on numerous committees of the National League of Cities and is a member of the Governor’s Council on Police Training having been appointed to the Council by Governors Tom Carper and Jack Markell. His involvement in other civic organizations includes: Chairman Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization (Transportation), Member of the Board Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Board Kent County Tourism, Member of the Board Kent Economic Partnership; and Member of the Dover Capital City Rotary.

Chief Christiansen graduated from Dover High School class of 1968 and attended Delaware State College. He retired from Safeway Stores, Inc. in 1987 and most recently retired from Simplex Grinnell after 27 years of service. Christiansen is an active parishioner at Holy Cross R. C. Church, Dover, and has been active as a community volunteer with Dover Little league and Dover Fire Department for over 40 years. He is also a former president of the North Dover Civic Association and one of its founders.

Chief Christiansen is married to his wife, Cindy of 47 years, and they are the proud parents of 5 children and 5 grandchildren. He is the son of Corinne P. Sammons Christiansen and the late Major A.L. Christiansen.

According to the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware Constitution, the Tribal Council is the governing body of the sovereign nation. Council members were elected by tribal citizens in November of 2021 and sworn in on December 3, 2021. They are as follows:

Assistant Chief — Frederick Douglas

Spiritual Leader — Terry Wayne Sammons

Secretary — Valerie Ridgeway Swayze

Treasurer — Theo Braunskill

Council At Large — Charles Edward Cooper

Council At Large — Patricia Robbins

Council At Large — Jordan Robbins-Ryland

The Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware serves the citizens of the Lenape Tribal Community, working to preserve the legacy of its ancestors, promote the interests of the people and affirm the tribal identity as the Lenape people of Delaware.

Contact email: lenapeindiantribeofdelaware@gmail.com