The Lenape Native Americans
Introduction
The Lenape, or Lenni-Lenape, as they call themselves, are a Native American tribe that lived around what is now Delaware. Because of this they are often called the Delaware Indians. The Lenape actually still exist today in Oklahoma and Wisconsin. When the Europeans came, the Lenape were driven westward during Manifest Destiny.
The name "Lenni-Lenape" translates to "Original People" or "Man of Man" in the Lenape language. They are one of the oldest tribes still here today. Other tribes used to call them "grandfather" because they had been around for so long. The Lenape had two main languages, Unami and Munsee, but they picked up English later on.
The Lenape, or Lenni-Lenape, as they call themselves, are a Native American tribe that lived around what is now Delaware. Because of this they are often called the Delaware Indians. The Lenape actually still exist today in Oklahoma and Wisconsin. When the Europeans came, the Lenape were driven westward during Manifest Destiny.
The name "Lenni-Lenape" translates to "Original People" or "Man of Man" in the Lenape language. They are one of the oldest tribes still here today. Other tribes used to call them "grandfather" because they had been around for so long. The Lenape had two main languages, Unami and Munsee, but they picked up English later on.
Invasion
At first, the Lenape were very friendly to the setters. They greeted Dutch ships who sailed into their harbors and traded furs and metal tools. The Lenape, as well as other Native American tribes, taught the Europeans and helped them. Some intermarriage occurred. Unfortunately, the Europeans brought diseases and other dangers to the land. Many of the Lenape fell sick with smallpox during and outbreak in 1663 which killed off many of their members. Some of the northern Lenape were taken over by the Iroquois in 1694, their traditional enemies. They lost the arms race with the Europeans, which put them at a major disadvantage. The Lenape, like many other tribes, were forced west. In the mid seventeen hundreds they moved into what is now Michigan and Ohio. Some are still there today. They later, around late 1700's and early 1800's, moved southwest through Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Some moved northwest into Wisconsin. The Lenape settled in Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Some still live in Oklahoma and Wisconsin today. |
"Lenape History." History. Web. 23 May 2014.
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Traditional Delaware Man. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 23 May 2014.
Lenape Knives. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 23 May 2014.
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Culture and Lifestyle
The newly immigrated Americans ruined and lost much of the Lenape and Native American culture. The Lenape were not given rights as American citizens until 1924. They were not given rights to practice their own religious beliefs until 1978 when Congress passed the "American Indian Religious Act." Before the Europeans came, the Lenape lived in Lenapehoking which is defined as the ”land of the Lenape ". This is now known as southeastern New York State, New Jersey, small part of southeastern Connecticut, Northern Delaware and the Eastern Pennsylvania. The Lenapehoking had lots of lakes, rivers, streams, forests and intensive wildlife. Two similar groups in lived Lenapehoking. The first group lived in the northern section above the Delaware water gap and the Raritan river. Furthermore, they spoke the dialect "Munsee" of the Eastern Algonquian Delaware language. Meanwhile the second group in the south communicated in Unami. Which is a similar dialect of the same language. The Lenape lived in large villages, but majority of them lived in bands of 25-50 people. In general, then Lenape were in large families because of the strong relationship they have with their relatives. Furthermore the Lenape had three phratries as follows, wolf, turkey, turtle and twelve clans within each. The descendants of these clans were found though the female line. The Lenape had no possessions, but instead they felt the responsibility to share the shelters and the community. The groups inhabiting the Lenapehoking had ways of organizing their villages and clans. The chiefs of each group was chosen based on this skills in speaking, ability of making wise decisions, honesty and their behavior. There were two chief in the Lenape. The Peace Chief knew about the religion which lead him to help other with rituals and ceremonies. The Lenape elected a War Leader during times of war. The leader was chosen based in power and success in battle, he could gather men go into battle without having to consult the Peace Chief. Tools were very essential to the Lenape. The men used tools to make houses, bows and arrow, harpoons and very important ornamental objects. Women concentrated on making garden and food preparing tools. For instance scrapers, chopper, and knives. Other tools were used to make clothing, basket, mats and fishnets. The Lenape used raw material to make stone tools (soap stone), weapons, and household tools. Deer and elk were killed food that provided bone and antler for fish hooks. The Lenape made rattles glue from hooves of animals. Bowls and cups were made from large sea shells, box turtles and wood terrapins. Pottery jars were made from clay on the river shore or lake shore. Baskets and mats were woven from roots certain of trees. Stone tools were made by chipping, flaking or grinding. Scraper, knives, arrowheads, spear points were made from finer grained stones because it was easier to work with it. Heavy working and domestic tool as. Axes, adages, celts were made from coarser stones. The tools were sharpened with hammer-stones, which was then polished with whetstone or with sand and water to create a smoother finish. Pendents and other objects were carved and polished and then later used for attachment. |
Timeline
-1624: the Lenape meet Dutch traders in Manhattan -1629: the Dutch buy land from the Lenape -1633: the Lenape greet a Dutch ship -1643: the Dutch kill 80-120 Lenape for a stolen pig and the Lenape strike back -1663: smallpox, a European disease, spreads to the Lenape -1664: English takeover the Delaware river -1670's: English colonize Lenape territory -1682: William Penn took over more parts of the Lenape territory -1683: Penn buys more land from them -1694: Iroquois takeover northern Lenape territory -1747: Moravians build a refuge shelter for the Lenape -1755-1763: French and Indian War; many Lenape and Iroquois join the French -1755: the Lenape fight with the English -1755: the Lenape make peace with the English -1756: the English attack the Lenape -1765: end of the war between the Lenape and English with a peace treaty -1768: many surviving Lenape move to Ohio and New York State -1876: a school for Native American children opens -1980: a historical society for the Lenape is opened |
There are very important figures of the Lenape, for example:
* 1661 Pinna, Chief of Passyunk Lenape, made treaty of peace with Phillip Calvert, Governor. of Maryland. * 1681 Chief Parritt of Sickneysinck, Delaware sold land. * 1709 Passakassy another Lenape chief who met the Governor at Philadelphia and lived in Pennsylvania * 1734 Nutimus (turkey). A good blacksmith and famous Indian doctor from New Jersey, was chief of the Lenape on the Forks. * 1764 Captain Pipe. A hereditary sachem and head chief of the Munsee. During the Revolution he was pro-British. * 1772 Capt. Johnny - Leader of the Turkey clan who early in the Revolution visited Washington at army Headquarters in New Jersey. * Head Chief -1700-1778 White Eyes - Famous Sachem of the Turtle clan. Served as a Lenape Captain during the Revolution. 1910 Lenape Family. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 23 May 2014.
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Bibliography
"Lenape." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 June 2014. Web. 08 May 2014.
"Lenape Indian Fact Sheet." Facts for Kids: Lenni Lenape Indian Tribe (Delaware Indians, Lenapes). Web. 08 May 2014.
"Welcome to Lenape Lifeways." Welcome to Lenape Lifeways. Web. 09 May 20
"Our Tribal History..." Our Tribal History... Web. 12 May 2014
"Welcome to Lenape Lifeways." Welcome to Lenape Lifeways. Web. 13 May 2014.
"Chiefs." Chiefs. Web. 14 May 2014.
"Indians of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley." Lenni Lenape in CC NJ. Web. 15 May 2014.
"History." History. Web. 15 May 2014.
"Lenni Lenape." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 May 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.
"Pers N - Z." Pers N - Z. Web. 15 May 2014.
"Lenape." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 June 2014. Web. 08 May 2014.
"Lenape Indian Fact Sheet." Facts for Kids: Lenni Lenape Indian Tribe (Delaware Indians, Lenapes). Web. 08 May 2014.
"Welcome to Lenape Lifeways." Welcome to Lenape Lifeways. Web. 09 May 20
"Our Tribal History..." Our Tribal History... Web. 12 May 2014
"Welcome to Lenape Lifeways." Welcome to Lenape Lifeways. Web. 13 May 2014.
"Chiefs." Chiefs. Web. 14 May 2014.
"Indians of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley." Lenni Lenape in CC NJ. Web. 15 May 2014.
"History." History. Web. 15 May 2014.
"Lenni Lenape." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 May 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.
"Pers N - Z." Pers N - Z. Web. 15 May 2014.