Lenapé Culture
One of our stated purposes is to educate the public about the
lifeways of our [adopted] ancestors. Unfortunately, not as much is known of
our ancestors as is known of other nations, such as the Lakota
[Sioux] or the Haudenosaunee [Iroquois].
There are many reasons for this, among them that our ancestors
were among the first nations to be displaced by the European
encroachment. The early European settlers had more important
efforts to turn their attentions to than to document the lifeways
of a group of people that were alien to their understanding of
civilization, who their religious and political leaders were
encouraging to "civilize" or eradicate. The Moravian
missionaries, who did live among our ancestors and learn of their
ways, did not record them as faithfully as the Jesuits recorded
the lifeways of the Haudenosaunee, nor did they record much of
their lifeways until our ancestors were already displaced from
their homeland to Ohio.
As we learn the lifeways of our ancestors, we hope to share
what we learn through this site, as well as through our public
appearances. We hope our efforts are useful to you.
Wawullamilessil [Good be to you; lit. Be thou continually
well].
The Lenapé
Family
The Role of Women
The Role of Women - Another
Perspective
The Modern Role of
Women
A Delaware Indian
Courtship
The Role of Men
Indian Names
The Clans
The Chief
The Giving
Ceremony
The Moccasin Game
Lenapé
Clothing
A Lenapé
Funeral
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