The Lenape Indians Lenape means “real men” but when English settlers came they renamed them “The Delaware”. When the Europeans came they gave the Lenape a hard time but the Lenape didn’t give up.

Lenape Territory As you can see the Lenape territory ran along much of the Atlantic coast like New Jersey, eastern New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

Before Meeting the Europeans Before meeting the Europeans the Lenape Indians lived like this. Above is a reconstructed Delaware village in waterloo New Jersey, the bark covered long house at the rear would have sheltered a dozen people.

Meeting the Europeans In 1524 the Lenape encounter their first white men when Giovanni De Verrazano sails up the Atlantic Coast. They interact freely with the Europeans and enjoy trading supplies with them when they first meet.

Infected With Small Pox To try to control and take over the Lenape, Lord Amherst sent a task force of 450 veteran solders under Col. Henry Bouquet. Then on his instructions the fort commander invited the Delaware attackers to present them with blankets infected with small pox spreading disease throughout their tribe.

Signing The Walking Treaty In 1736 the Lenape Sign the walking treaty which takes away the Lenape claim to land in eastern Pennsylvania causing them to lose more of their land. They signed nearly 800 deeds giving most of their Lenape land away.

The Peace Treaty Later the Delaware and the Shawnee stopped fighting the British in late 1764 but peace was not formalized until July The treaty with the Delaware was signed by sir William Johnson.

Saying Goodbye From 1818 through 1840 all of the remaining Delaware's move to Indiana and other western states, they are forced out by white settlers, and move farther west and north, separating the tribe forever.

By: Jacob Wilber