Trail of Hope

Holding his dream in his heart, William Penn sighted the Delaware Bay in 1682 and arrived at Shackamaxon, where he was greeted by its inhabitants, Lenape Indians.
It was here, next to the gently flowing waters of the Delaware River, and under the shade of Great Elm tree William Penn entered into the Great Treaty with Chief Tamanend.
Those two leaders made a covenant of peace, love and friendship with one another. A powerful commitment witnessed before heaven and earth. It spoke of Faith and Unity, and it spoke of Hope.

Rediscovering the SEED of Peace

To raise awareness of the significance of Chief Tamanend, William Penn’s Treaty of Friendship and its principals of social justice, peace, liberty, freedom, and mutual respect, while connecting the history of our past to the events of present day, the Trail of Hope brings together universal truths among humankind.
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Here is a schedule of this Celebration of Hope:

It will be held Saturday, March 24, 2012. It’s open to All and All are welcome.

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8:30am — Gathering in the Penn Treaty Park.
9:00am – Leaving the Park; start of the 11 miles walk.
2:00pm – arriving at Haverford College; gathering under a descendant of the Great Elm Tree, where celebration will take place.

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Walking 11 miles is not necessary; you’re very welcome to join us at any point.
My sincere thanks to Haverford Collage Arboretum for their constant support, good heart and generosity.
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William Penn approached Chief Tamanend:
“The great Spirit, who made me and you, who rules the heavens and the earth, and who knows the innermost thoughts of men, knows that I and my friends have a hearty desire to live in peace and friendship with you.”
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Chief Tamanend declared:
“We will live in love with William Penn and his children as long as the creeks and rivers run, and while the sun and moon and stars endure.”
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Shackamaxon, present day Fishtown – Philadelphia neighborhood in pictures.

   2000  MILE WALK  on            the Trail of Hope

     Contact:  Peter Prusinowski

      Phone: 215 – 764 – 0260                            email:  ImageWhisperer@gmail.com

To raise awareness of the significance of Chief Tamanend,  William Penn’s Treaty of Friendship and its principals of social justice, peace, liberty, freedom, and mutual respect, while connecting the history of our past to the events of present day, the Trail of Hope brings together universal truths among humankind.

A 2,000 mile walk lasting for eight months will begin on March 23. There will be no corporate sponsors and no cars following with supplies. Peter Prusinowski, a  resident   of Fishtown, will leave Penn Treaty Park at 9 a.m. to begin a solo journey.

Armed with his cameras, his walk will trace the Lenape Indian migration from the Delaware Valley to Bartlesville, Oklahoma and highlight events along the way on what he is calling “The Trail of Hope.”

Prusinowski  came  to the United States from Poland in 1976. His love of history and a discovery of the world of photography merged and began to shape his new life. The story of William Penn and Tamanend and their 1682 Treaty of Friendship became part of what he feels is his destiny. “My desire to spread the life altering elements of love, peace and friendship among humanities mirrored the very intentions of William Penn in 1682 along the riverbank in the same neighborhood I immigrated to.” 

Prusinowski views the walk as a journey of sharing, discovery and reflection. He will take along still and video cameras to preserve the stories he will hear along the way. He will tell his own story about finding purpose in one’s life and how together we can make a difference in our world. He will photograph sites that tell of the past and the present. Ultimately, the photographs of his experiences on the Trail of Hope will be presented in an exhibit to inspire peace, love and hope for future generations.

His route will take him across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas to Oklahoma. In addition to his cameras, he will carry only a cell phone, laptop computer and a small backpack. He plans to walk about 20 miles a day and then will stop at night along the way. “I believe that the gentle shadow of the Great Elm Tree’s canopy will follow me along this trail, like an eagle protecting me under its wings,” he said.

Prusinowski has established a blog   www.TrailOfHopeBlog.com  about his journey. He will update it as he walks. The Penn Treaty Museum, an online museum (penntreatymuseum.org), will also maintain contact with him.

On March 23 from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. a ceremony will take place in Penn Treaty Park to start Peter  Prusinowski’s  journey   at the site of the Treaty of Friendship. The park is located at 1188 N. Delaware Avenue and Columbia Ave. in Fishtown.