In past years, I've always taken the opportunity to reveal the true origins of Thanksgiving and expose the cruel and evil intentions of the so called settlers in the so called new land. I've been shouting the same message for so many years now in print and on the radio that this year I've decided to do something different. This year I'm simply going to pay hommage to the Lenni Lenape, who were the original inhabitants of what we now refer to as the Greater Philadelphia Region.

The Lenapé, or Lenni Lenapé, were a loose confederacy of Algonquian bands living in their homeland of Lenapehoking. This land encompassed parts of what is now New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylania, Northern Delaware, Long Island, Staten Island, and other portions of New York at the time of European contact. Our stories tell us that we came to this land in the far back times from the West. Many tribes respectfully call the Lenapé "Grandfather". We lived in this homeland for thousands of years.

Lenni Lenapé means "real people" or "common people". The English called us 'Delaware' after Lord De La War, and to this day, many of us go by that name.

The Lenapé lived in small communities and were fiercly independent. Each band was governed by a chief or sakimâ advised by council. While chiefs, warriors, and others with special skills were respected for their abilities, they also were expected to use those skills for the common good. As William Penn wrote, "Tis admirable to consider how powerful the kings are, and yet how they move by the breath of their people." Any who disagreed with the policies were free to move to another community, or form one themselves. While there were no such things as laws, honor was paramount.

The Lenapé at the time of contact were not nomads. They lived in a type of longhouse or wigwams. They grew crops, especially the Three Sisters; corn, beans, and squash.
Women held a more influencial and respected place in their community than their European sisters. One is born into the clan of the mother. Women, not men, owned the house and land. If there was a divorce, the mother kept the children. Women also were a political influence and several female signatures appear on various treaties.

As a generous people, we at first welcomed the European newcomers. The Europeans' ways were so different, that it was inevitable that conflict would arise. The Lenapé believe that Kishelamàkânk, the Creator, gave us this land to use, care for, and share.
Lenapé warriors were skilled and fierce when necessary, but preferred to live in peace. Despite diplomacy and signed treaties, war broke out. For two and a half centuries, we were at the forefront of virtually every important battle between the Indians and the encroaching settlers. Slowly we moved through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, and finally to Oklahoma (Indian Territory).

Today, many of our cousins live on the reservations in Oklahoma. Throughout these centuries, however, many remained, intermarrying and assimilating into the dominant culture. These ancestors hid their Native heritage to protect their children from persecution, and at times, death. In Native culture, decisions are made with the future generations in mind. Only in the last few decades has it been possible for the decendents of those ancestors to begin to practice their religion and culture again. It is a tribute to our ancestors and their efforts to ensure our survival that today many say, "There are no Indians here in the East." In truth, there are thousands of us, and we have begun to reclaim our heritage

***reprinted from Thunder Mountain Lenape, Inc.

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