Lenape

Lenape Languages

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Susie Elkhair-Deleware Tribe of Indians-(Lenape)

Treaty of Penn with Indians by Benjamin West

Gustavus Hesselius-Lapowinsa (larger)

Lenape

The Lenape, also known as the Delaware Indians, are an indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in Canada and the United States. Historically, their territory included present-day New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York State, and northern Delaware, where they primarily engaged in farming, fishing, and hunting.

History

The Lenape are a significant part of the early history of what became the United States. European contact began in the 16th and 17th centuries with the arrival of Dutch and Swedish settlers. The Lenape faced diseases, land theft, and forced displacement that drastically reduced their population and land holdings. Notably, the infamous 1682 land deal between Lenape sachem (chief) Tamanend and William Penn led to the establishment of Pennsylvania, a key event often romanticized in American folklore.

During the 18th century, many Lenape were displaced by expanding European colonies, leading to migrations into the Ohio Country and beyond. Throughout the 19th century, further displacement occurred, with many Lenape being relocated to Oklahoma under U.S. government policies.

Culture

The Lenape society was organized into three matrilineal clans: the Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf. They lived in villages consisting of wigwams and longhouses, with agriculture (cultivating maize, beans, and squash), hunting, and fishing being central to their economy.

Lenape spiritual beliefs were deeply connected to the natural world, with a rich tradition of storytelling, ceremonies, and the practice of the Big House Ceremony, their most important religious event.

Language

The Lenape spoke two dialects of the Eastern Algonquian language group: Unami and Munsee. These languages are now endangered, with efforts underway to revive and preserve them.

Contemporary Lenape

Today, Lenape descendants are primarily found in Oklahoma, where the Delaware Nation and the Delaware Tribe of Indians are located, and in Wisconsin, where the Stockbridge-Munsee Community resides. There are also Lenape communities in Canada, particularly in Ontario, represented by the Moravian of the Thames and the Munsee-Delaware Nation.

Despite centuries of displacement and assimilation pressures, the Lenape people continue to maintain their cultural heritage and traditions, contributing to the diverse tapestry of indigenous cultures in North America.

See Also

• Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands
• European colonization of the Americas
• History of New Jersey
• History of Pennsylvania