Angel Hogan, volunteer with the Philly Goat Project, introduces Goat Ray to attendees at the Philly Goat Walk and Lenape Nation Talk event on Saturday, Nov. 29th. | BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
As the sun reached its high peak on Saturday — golden, watchful, almost ceremonial — the air settled into a crisp autumn sweetness. About 100 people gathered at the Awbury Agricultural Village grounds, wrapped in scarves and kept warm by boots that crunched leaves with each step.
Fingerless, fleece, woolen and mismatched gloves held fast to the promise of warmth, adventure and goat-induced mischief.
The third annual Philly GOAT Walk, hosted by the Philly Goat Project and Lenape Nation Talk, invited attendees to walk on grounds layered with the footsteps of Lenape lineage. The procession began at Awbury Agricultural Village grounds and made its way back towards herding grounds after a session of cultural insight at the Arboretum.
Attendees arrive at the Awbury Arboretum. | BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
“An event like this teaches us to appreciate the importance and merit of diverse stories and histories,” said Leslie Jackson, Philly Goat Project’s director of operations.
The afternoon opened with words from the Philly Goat Project team before a lively meet-and-bleat session.
Then Barbara BlueJay Michalski, Chief and Keeper of Culture of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania shared a brief message setting the tone for the journey ahead.
Leslie Jackson and Chief Barbara BlueJay Michalski lead the group through the Awbury Agricultural Village. | BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
“If one person leaves with a little more knowledge about what happened to our people, my job is done,” Michalski said.
During the journey, Michalski offered Lenape folk stories and facts, stitching the past and present together with each tale. Conversations bloomed between neighbors and strangers alike, a connection through shared curiosity and rediscovering heritage.
Attendees walk through the Awbury Agricultural Village toward the Arboretum. | BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The journey crossed Washington Lane, where stories deepened. One story shared was of the Pine Tree and Sparrow, a legend that explains why pine trees stay green and full year-round.
The group paused by a pond where geese honked their hellos and looped around the Arboretum. Shadows lengthened as the procession returned to the herding grounds, where Michalski and Jackson offered closing reflections.
Merchandise at the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania stand. | BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
As the sun bowed toward evening, some attendees gathered by the crackling fire, soaking in laughter and old tales retold while others shared goodbyes with the goats or browsed merchandise from the Lenape and Philly Goat Project tables.
Chief Barbara BlueJay Michalski tells stories by a crackling fire. | BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
“Barbara had a lot to share, and it made me want to do some more research on my own,” said Ann, a New York native and Mount Airy resident.