Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape
Encyclopedia
The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape People (also known as Nanticoke Lenape Indians) are a tribal confederation of the core families of the Nanticoke
of the Delmarva Peninsula
and the Lenni-Lenape of Southern New Jersey
and Northern Delaware
. The history of the tribe in its homeland goes back thousands of years. The Tribe is made up of the Nanticoke and Lenape
descending from those who remained, or returned, to their ancient homeland after many of their relatives suffered removals and forced migration
s to the mid-western United States and Canada. The Nanticoke and Lenni-Lenape people were among the first to resist European encroachment upon their lands, among the first to sign treaties in an attempt to create a peaceful co-existence… and, were among the first to be forced onto reservations on the Delmarva Peninsula and in New Jersey, disbanded and long forgotten in the public memory. The tribe's current headquarters is in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe stands out as an American Indian Nation that passed tribal law forbidding the tribe's participation in casino gaming. Tribal Law No. 2006-1 - An Act Banning Tribally Owned or Operated Businesses Involving Vice - "precludes the tribe, and any of its subsidiaries, from establishing any business that derives its profit from casino style gambling, the sale of cigarettes, cigars, alcohol or pornography". The tribe's opposition to gaming is the reason that tribal citizens are quick to point out the difference between the historic Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe and a recently formed smaller group from the same area in southern New Jersey calling itself the "Unalachtigo Band of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation," which advocates gaming and is not affiliated with the state recognized tribe.
and Eastern Pennsylvania
at the time the Europeans came, called themselves “Lenni-Lenape,” which literally means "Original People" or "Common People." From the early 17th century, the English settlers called the Lenape people “Delaware Indians.” The ancestors of the Lenni-Lenape lived in the area for as much as 12,000 years.
Three main Lenape dialect clans, each made up of smaller independent but interrelated communities, extended from the northern part of the tribe's ancient homeland at the headwaters of the Delaware River down to the Delaware Bay. The Munsee (People of the Stony Country) lived in the north. The Unami
(People Down River) and Unalachtigo (People Who Live Near the Ocean) lived in the central and southern part of the homeland.
The peace-loving Lenni-Lenape are considered the most ancient nation of the Algonquian
language family. The Lenape are still called the “grandfathers” or “ancient ones” by many tribes and are considered to be among the most ancient of the Northeastern Nations, spawning many of the tribes along the northeastern seaboard. The Lenape were often called to settle disputes among neighboring tribal groups and were admired by European colonist for their hospitality and diplomatic skill.
in southeastern Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland
. Called the “Tidewater People,” the Nanticoke, like many of their neighboring tribes, have ancient origins in common with the Lenape, originating from among them.
The Nanticoke were among the first of the Northeastern Nations to resist European colonial intrusion into their homeland as early as the 1650s. After years of struggle, Nanticoke people still survive today in Delaware, New Jersey and are also throughout the United States and Canada.
Nanticoke migration began in the early 17th century from the Eastern Shore of Maryland through southeastern Delaware. By the 19th century many were along the shores of the Delaware River
. As a result of this migration, Nanticoke people united with the Lenni-Lenape Indians who remained in New Jersey.
As early as 1704, Nanticoke living in the Delmarva Peninsula, who had lived there for thousands of years, were restricted to the Chicone (Chiconi), Broad Creek and Indian River Reservations by the British colonial governments. Also, the Brotherton Reservation (1758–1802) in Burlington County, New Jersey which was intended to be a safe haven for some of New Jersey's Lenape Indians. All of these reservations failed to protect the tribal residents and were disbanded, leaving the Nanticoke and Lenape to struggle to maintain what bits of the ancient homeland that they could. Indian communities remained in the areas of the former reservations, becoming "isolate" groups, keeping to themselves...and, sometimes being forgotten or misidentified by the larger non-Native communities.
, Kansas
, Oklahoma
and other areas, or faced elimination. Some were able to continue to live in the homeland, however, they lived in constant fear. Those who remained survived through attempting to adapt to the dominant culture, becoming farmers and tradesmen. Many Nanticoke-Lenape Indians embraced Christianity while not forgetting or devaluing many ancient tribal ways. In fact, it has been through several tribal congregations that Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape have been able to preserve their culture, maintain ties with nearby related tribal communities, and continue a form of tribal governance. One of the historical tribal congregations, Saint John United Methodist Church of Fordville, New Jersey has the distinction of being the only designated Native American Church in New Jersey by the United Methodist Church. By the 20th century, most of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe’s population resided in and around Cumberland and Salem Counties in New Jersey, remaining closely related to the isolated Nanticoke and Lenape tribal communities in Sussex and Kent Counties in Delaware.
The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe, the largest American Indian Tribe in New Jersey, is governed by a nine member elected Tribal Council. All council members must also be enrolled citizens of the tribe, which includes the requirement of having met the mandatory tribal Indian blood quantum and documenting core family ancestry. The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe consists of over 3000 enrolled citizens in over 1500 households, with many more non-enrolled Nanticoke-Lenape descendants and extended family still living in Southern New Jersey and the surrounding area, who participate in tribal activities. According to the 2000 United States Census, an additional 9000 non-enrolled tribal descendants also live in the Cumberland County New Jersey area, which is a declared State Designated American Indian Statistical Area (SDAISA).
Nanticoke Indian Tribe
The Nanticoke people are an indigenous American Algonquian people, whose traditional homelands are in Chesapeake Bay and Delaware. Today they live in the northeast United States, especially Delaware; in Canada; and in Oklahoma.-History:...
of the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
and the Lenni-Lenape of Southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Northern Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. The history of the tribe in its homeland goes back thousands of years. The Tribe is made up of the Nanticoke and Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
descending from those who remained, or returned, to their ancient homeland after many of their relatives suffered removals and forced migration
Forced migration
Forced migration refers to the coerced movement of a person or persons away from their home or home region...
s to the mid-western United States and Canada. The Nanticoke and Lenni-Lenape people were among the first to resist European encroachment upon their lands, among the first to sign treaties in an attempt to create a peaceful co-existence… and, were among the first to be forced onto reservations on the Delmarva Peninsula and in New Jersey, disbanded and long forgotten in the public memory. The tribe's current headquarters is in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe stands out as an American Indian Nation that passed tribal law forbidding the tribe's participation in casino gaming. Tribal Law No. 2006-1 - An Act Banning Tribally Owned or Operated Businesses Involving Vice - "precludes the tribe, and any of its subsidiaries, from establishing any business that derives its profit from casino style gambling, the sale of cigarettes, cigars, alcohol or pornography". The tribe's opposition to gaming is the reason that tribal citizens are quick to point out the difference between the historic Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe and a recently formed smaller group from the same area in southern New Jersey calling itself the "Unalachtigo Band of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation," which advocates gaming and is not affiliated with the state recognized tribe.
Lenape heritage in Southern New Jersey and Northern Delaware
The Lenape ancestors of the modern tribe are those who inhabited New Jersey, Delaware, Southeastern New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Eastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
at the time the Europeans came, called themselves “Lenni-Lenape,” which literally means "Original People" or "Common People." From the early 17th century, the English settlers called the Lenape people “Delaware Indians.” The ancestors of the Lenni-Lenape lived in the area for as much as 12,000 years.
Three main Lenape dialect clans, each made up of smaller independent but interrelated communities, extended from the northern part of the tribe's ancient homeland at the headwaters of the Delaware River down to the Delaware Bay. The Munsee (People of the Stony Country) lived in the north. The Unami
Unami
Unami may refer to:*the Lenape language, or its sublanguage the Unami language*Unami Creek*the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq *the Unami Lodge...
(People Down River) and Unalachtigo (People Who Live Near the Ocean) lived in the central and southern part of the homeland.
The peace-loving Lenni-Lenape are considered the most ancient nation of the Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
language family. The Lenape are still called the “grandfathers” or “ancient ones” by many tribes and are considered to be among the most ancient of the Northeastern Nations, spawning many of the tribes along the northeastern seaboard. The Lenape were often called to settle disputes among neighboring tribal groups and were admired by European colonist for their hospitality and diplomatic skill.
Nanticoke heritage from the Delmarva into Southern New Jersey
The Nanticoke ancestors of the modern Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribe are those who dwelled along the Indian RiverIndian River (Delaware)
The Indian River is a river and estuary, approximately 15 mi long, in Sussex County in southern Delaware in the United States....
in southeastern Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
. Called the “Tidewater People,” the Nanticoke, like many of their neighboring tribes, have ancient origins in common with the Lenape, originating from among them.
The Nanticoke were among the first of the Northeastern Nations to resist European colonial intrusion into their homeland as early as the 1650s. After years of struggle, Nanticoke people still survive today in Delaware, New Jersey and are also throughout the United States and Canada.
Nanticoke migration began in the early 17th century from the Eastern Shore of Maryland through southeastern Delaware. By the 19th century many were along the shores of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. As a result of this migration, Nanticoke people united with the Lenni-Lenape Indians who remained in New Jersey.
As early as 1704, Nanticoke living in the Delmarva Peninsula, who had lived there for thousands of years, were restricted to the Chicone (Chiconi), Broad Creek and Indian River Reservations by the British colonial governments. Also, the Brotherton Reservation (1758–1802) in Burlington County, New Jersey which was intended to be a safe haven for some of New Jersey's Lenape Indians. All of these reservations failed to protect the tribal residents and were disbanded, leaving the Nanticoke and Lenape to struggle to maintain what bits of the ancient homeland that they could. Indian communities remained in the areas of the former reservations, becoming "isolate" groups, keeping to themselves...and, sometimes being forgotten or misidentified by the larger non-Native communities.
Isolated group remains after many migrate
Because of continuing conflict with European settlers encroaching upon Tribal lands, many of the Tribe’s members were killed or removed from their homelands. Many either moved to CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and other areas, or faced elimination. Some were able to continue to live in the homeland, however, they lived in constant fear. Those who remained survived through attempting to adapt to the dominant culture, becoming farmers and tradesmen. Many Nanticoke-Lenape Indians embraced Christianity while not forgetting or devaluing many ancient tribal ways. In fact, it has been through several tribal congregations that Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape have been able to preserve their culture, maintain ties with nearby related tribal communities, and continue a form of tribal governance. One of the historical tribal congregations, Saint John United Methodist Church of Fordville, New Jersey has the distinction of being the only designated Native American Church in New Jersey by the United Methodist Church. By the 20th century, most of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe’s population resided in and around Cumberland and Salem Counties in New Jersey, remaining closely related to the isolated Nanticoke and Lenape tribal communities in Sussex and Kent Counties in Delaware.
Continuing Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal activity
In 1978, The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe established a tribally governed 501(c)3 non-profit community benefit agency, “The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians of New Jersey,” which is chartered exclusively for educational, social, and cultural purposes, to promote the welfare of Native Americans who reside in the Delaware Valley; to extend charity in all forms to those Native Americans in need, giving priority to Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians residing in the Delaware Valley; to establish cultural and instructional facilities; to improve health and welfare, housing, human rights, and economic security; to acquire and preserve land and water areas in a natural scenic or open condition consistent with the heritage of the Native Americans who reside in the Delaware Valley. In 1982, the Tribe received official recognition from the State of New Jersey, via Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 73, which was later reaffirmed through tribe's statutory inclusion on the New Jersey State Commission on American Indian Affairs (New Jersey Public Law 1995 c. 295; New Jersey Statutes 52:16A-53 et. seq.). The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape enjoy friendly relations with the nation of Sweden, which acknowledges its tribal identity and sovereignty, recently celebrating its more than 350 year old treaty of friendship with the Tribe, extending back to the days of the early settlement of the Swedes and Finns in the Land of the Lenape, before Dutch and British colonial powers settled in the area. This intergenerational friendship has continued with the descendants of the early Swedish settlers who still live in the Lenape homeland.The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe, the largest American Indian Tribe in New Jersey, is governed by a nine member elected Tribal Council. All council members must also be enrolled citizens of the tribe, which includes the requirement of having met the mandatory tribal Indian blood quantum and documenting core family ancestry. The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe consists of over 3000 enrolled citizens in over 1500 households, with many more non-enrolled Nanticoke-Lenape descendants and extended family still living in Southern New Jersey and the surrounding area, who participate in tribal activities. According to the 2000 United States Census, an additional 9000 non-enrolled tribal descendants also live in the Cumberland County New Jersey area, which is a declared State Designated American Indian Statistical Area (SDAISA).