Our Lenape and Nanticoke ancestors were
peace loving
, and given to hospitality. We lived in harmony with the natural world around us in small communities and had wigwams and longhouses as homes. The men hunted and fished while the women grew crops.
How did the Lenape live?
The Lenape utilized natural resources to build their homes. They lived in
single doorway wooden huts called wigwams
, which were situated along rivers and creeks. The size of their wigwams depended on the region they inhabited.
What was life like for the Lenape tribe?
Some Lenape lived in small groups of
50 to 100
people, others in larger groups of several hundred, in villages along the banks of rivers, usually in an area with good rich soil. The Lenape hunted, fished, farmed and gathered wild plants, seeds and nuts according to the seasons.
What are the Lenape traditions?
The Lenape kept themselves very clean by taking their
daily swim or steam bath
. Women had long hair and usually kept it in a bun or braid. Also, their clothing consisted of skirts made of deer or beaver skin in the winter, and a light wrap around skirt in the summer.
What do the Lenape eat?
Like most modern Americans the Lenape of today eat all kinds of food—
pizza, steak, fried chicken, hamburgers, and so forth
. There are some special occasions where Indian foods are served, and usually you will find foods like frybread, corn and meat, and grape dumplings.
How is Lenni Lenape doing today?
They are working to keep their culture alive including their land, language, arts, and ceremonies.
Today they continue to fight for sovereignty, civil rights and the health and well-being of their people
. The story of the Lenni-Lenape did not end with the removal from their land.
What were three of the main foods that the Lenape ate?
The Lenni Lenape's major farming staples were
corn, winter squash, and climbing beans
. This group is called “The Three Sisters”, and was a very popular combination across the Americas (and particularly in the North East).
Is Iroquois a Lenape?
The Iroquois added the Lenape to the Covenant Chain in 1676; the Lenape were
tributary
to the Five Nations (later Six) until 1753, shortly before the outbreak of the French and Indian War (a part of the Seven Years' War in Europe).
Who did the Lenape side with?
The Lenape Tribe, which lived along the Delaware River in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Delaware, were originally trading partners with the French in the 17th century but then chose to ally themselves with
the British
, through the Iroquois, during the long series of French and Indian Wars that …
Where did the Lenape come from?
The Lenni-Lenape (or simply “Lenape”) are the ancient root of
many other American Indian nations
. The Lenape homeland included all of New Jersey, northern Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, and southeastern New York. The Nanticoke are the people of the Delmarva between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
What are the 3 clans of the Lenape?
Clan Symbols: These represent the three clans of the Lenape:
Turtle, Wolf and Turkey
.
Where do the Lenape live?
Their land, called Lenapehoking, included all of what is now
New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York State, northern Delaware
and a small section of southeastern Connecticut. Today, Lenape communities live all across North America.
What weapons did the Lenape use?
What were Lenni Lenape tools and weapons like? Lenape hunters used
bows and arrows
. Lenape warriors wielded heavy wooden war clubs, and also carried body-length shields of moosehide and wood.
How do you say hello in Lenape?
| Lenape English | Hè Hello! (or) Hi! | Làpìch knewël I will see you again. (Goodbye) | tëmike Come in! (or) Go in! | lëmatahpi Sit down! |
|---|
How did the Lenape dress?
The clothing of the Lenape was simple. The
men wore breechclouts and moccasins, with leggings and a robe to cover themselves in cold weather
. Women had knee- or calf-length wrap-around skirts and wore fur robes in winter, or a beautiful mantle made from turkey feathers.
How do I join the Lenape tribe?
Most common for enrolled citizenship are
lineal descent
, blood quantum, or relationship based requirements, or some combination of the three. Tribes with a lineal descent requirement allow enrollment based on an applicant having a single ancestor on the tribe's historic base role.
