Lenape
November has been proclaimed National American Indian Heritage Month since 1994. The first efforts to honor the Native Americans with a national day of recognition began with the Boys Scouts of America, and was taken nation wide a few years later by President Calvin Coolidge in 1915. The towns of Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff offer abundant reminders throughout the year with regards to the first Americans through the many streets bearing Native American names.
Interest and appreciation in the Native American way of life has grown over the last century as the nation has worked to preserve its natural resources and beauty. Along with a greater respect for the land is an increase in natural remedies as an alternative to over the counter medicines. In 1902, a reporter from New York City “gathered bit by bit from the old people of an out-of-the-way New Jersey countryside” a list of herbal remedies with many being attributed to the Lenape Indians. The reporter, Katherine Mayo, became well known for her global travels and her documentation as a social historian. She suggested readers at the time consider some of the scientifically baseless practices still practiced in Europe while considering the use of burdock root for blood cleansing, dandelion tea for the liver, and peppermint or sage tea for colds. Other remedies described employed different roots and herbs in the concoction of what might be called a “hot toddy” which requires a splash of whisky.
A popular Lenape ball game witnessed by a man named John Burnet in the 1790s offered intriguing insight into the relationship between the sexes. In order to allow a men’s team and a women’s team to compete together on a level playing field, men could only use their feet in moving the ball and women only allowed to use their hands; tackling was allowed. The game witnessed by Mr. Burnet in 1790 ended with a hail mary pass by one of the women resulting in the winning goal.
Most people are aware that many of our popular foods originate from Native American communities. Corn is the most well known, but Halloween’s trademark pumpkin is also of North American origins. Even the Irish potato is not Irish at all, but came from this side of the pond. Native Americans provided not only the potato, but offered humanitarian relief during the Irish Famine in the mid 1800s. With the recent Trail of Tears still fresh in their memories, the Choctaw Indians raised money amongst their own impoverished people to help the starving Irish.
This area of New Jersey was originally populated by what is commonly known now as the Delaware Indians which incorporated different tribes such as the Lenape Indians. The structure of Indian nations was often built around a common language in conjunction with geographic proximity. One’s loyalties would lie first with the local tribe, and then expand to neighboring tribes sharing the same language, and incorporate other tribes with similar dialects. This particular area was home to what are now known as the Munsee Indians, part of the Lenape Indians, part of the Delaware Indians, part of the Algonquin Indians. The structure is similar to how people today identify themselves in terms of being residents of a neighborhood, town, county, state except then the emphasis was on shared language.
The Lenapes would be considered the most diplomatic of the tribes carrying the nickname of either “grandfather” or “grandmother” depending on whether a neighboring tribe was being respectful or derogatory. Their status as “grandfather” indicated wisdom, and reference to “grandmother” indicated an unwillingness to fight. The Lenapes overall peaceful existance with the European settlers was interrupted several times with the Dutch in the 1600s, and then during the French & Indian War in the 1700s. The length of this war susbsided in NJ around 1758 with the creation of a reservation in Burlington County which existed till the early 1800s.
Benjamin Franklin, an ardent supporter of the French & Indian War, was also an admirer of certain aspects of their society. He is reported as having been inspired by the Iroquois League of Nations while formulating the structure for the federal government. Most scholars believe the majority of founding fathers had very limited knowledge concerning the ways of the Iroquois, but both Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were known to be well acquainted and involved with members of the Iroquois nation.
Chief Lapowinsa
The cover photograph for this article is a painting from 1771 commemorating the treaty signed between William Penn and the Lenapes in 1682. This treaty was honored as long as William Penn was around, but unfortunately his descendants were quick to disregard the Lenapes’ rights. Seeking to make a profit, as well as pay off their own debts, the Lenapes’ land was illegally sold out from under them. Penn’s sons, John and Thomas, swindled the Lenapes in the Walking Purchase Treaty which was signed by Chief Lapowinsa. The Lenapes continued to seek relief from the courts well into the late 1800s claiming ownership to parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Chief Waubuno’s attempt in 1890 to bring justice to his people was met with derision in the press at the time although groups sympathetic to his cause offered support.
The Journal has compiled a few short videos that are educative, contemplative and inspiring in different ways. Some, like Video-1 offer insight into the ingenious tools and methods used by the Lenapes for fishing. Video-2 is a tribute to the great chiefs throughout all the tribes in North America. The 3rd video honors the sacrifice of Native American soldiers who have been serving the country with distinction since its founding.
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