Lenape+Indians

Jerrica's Page

History of Arcola Grounds 


 * Arcola has a rich history of tribes/people that lived on its grounds. One of those tribes are particulary special. They are called the Lenape Indians. **

Lenape is pronounced (Leh-NAH-pay) and it means "the people". They are also known as the Lenni Lenape and the Delaware Indians. These Native Americans are originally from the mid-atlantic area and were droven out by the British.The population of Lenape Indians are about 16,000 today. The Lenni Lenapes of Pennsylvania and New Jersey are not officially recognized as tribes of the United States. This means that they do not have land reserved for them or their own governmental system, but they still practice their rich and interesting culture (which we will talk about later). Guess what?! The Lenape's speak English like you and I! Very few Lenapes speak their native language, known as Unami. Want to know how to say some easy Lenape words? Some easy words are like "he", but it is pronounced as "hey" in the Lenape language. Also, a friendly greeting, "wanishi" means thank you! Lanape kids are just like regular kids, maybe like you! Except for the hunting part though...but it's okay! They also play with toys such as dolls and mikniture bows and arrow, do chores, and go to school. A Lenape game for teenagers and adults is lacrosse, but it's only played by men and boys. Don't get discouraged though girls because there is also a game that's a kicking football game that can be played by both genders. The Lenape mothers carry their babies incradleboards on their backs, a tradition that is used commonly today. To do all these fun activities, you have to have a place to do them right? Now where do you think the Lenape lives? You probably think they lived in tepees, but no they didn't. They lived in villages of round houses called wigwams. That is a funny word to say. Wigwams wigwams wigwams. Well now you will remember the word right? Ok lets move on. The roles in a Lenape tribe is the women are farmers and did most of the child care cooking. The men took care of the hunting and they are Lenape chiefs, but today women can be Lenape chiefs too. Power to us! Both genders took part in storytelling, artwork, music, and traditional medicine. The Lenape indians shape around farming because they mainly farm every day. Now you are probably wondering what do these curious native people wear? Well, the women wear knee-length skirtsand Lenape men wore breechcloths and leggings. When you think of a native indian, you think of people who wear those things on their heads with feathers stuck to them right? Well the Lenape wore a beaded headband with a few feathers stuck to it. They would paint their faces for special celebrations and occasions. The Lenni Lenape tribe used bark and dug out canoes to travel along the rivers that surround where they're living. They interact with the Nanticoke and Munsee Delewares. Now I think I told you all I knew about the Lenape indians, but you can discover more about these interesting and cultural people in a special book called "The Lenape Indians"by Joshua D. G. Wilker. Check it out sometime!

__ Work Cited: __ Lewis, Orrin. "Lenape Indian Fact Sheet." //Orrin's Website//. Native Languages of the Americas website, 2011. Web. 14 Feb 2012. [] media type="file" key="The Lenape Indians1.mp3"