1. Meet the Lenape The Land of Lenapehoking Trip Objectives Lenape Terms
Daily Life
What Became of the Lenape
Website Links
By: Nevin Iliev

2. The Land of Lenapehoking
Today we are going to travel back to the 17th century to the land of Lenapehoking. Lenapehoking was a large area which covered parts of New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania. There we will meet a Native American people called The Lenape (pronounced len-AH-pay). The word Lenape means “true people”. The two languages that the Lenape spoke were Munsee and Unami. In Pennsylvania, they spoke Unami. Before we start our virtual field trip, please say “He” (pronounced hay) in Lenape, which means hello, to your neighbor so that when you meet the Lenape you will be prepared to greet them.

3. Trip Objectives Indentify who the Lenape were.
Explain where the Lenape lived.
Understand the Lenape’s daily life.
Describe what type of dwellings the Lenape lived in.

4. Lenape Terms
Breechcloth- a single piece of cloth which is passed through the legs and tied to the waist with string.
Cradleboard- a wooden frame which a baby is strapped to when worn on a mother’s back.
Dugout canoe – a canoe made by hollowing the trunk of a tree.
Fishweir- a trap for fish made out of stakes.
Munsee– language spoke by the Lenape living north of the Delaware Water Gap.
Quiver- a long case which contains arrows.
Shaman- a medicine man who healed the spirit.
Sweatlodge- a type of steam house the Lenape would visit when they were sick.
Three Sisters- corn, beans, and squash crops that the Lenape planted.
Unami- language spoken by the Lenape living south of the Delaware Water Gap.
Wigwam - a dome shaped home made out of saplings.

5. Daily Life
Hunting
Gathering
Fishing
Dugout Canoes
Medicine

6. See video to learn more about Hunting
The Lenape were excellent hunters. They used bows and arrows which they kept in quivers to hunt various animals including deer, elk, turkeys and small game. Animals they caught provided meat for food, hides for clothing and sinews for sewing. They also used snares to trap animals. In particular, they trapped beavers and sold or traded their pelts to settlers.
See video to learn more about Hunting
Daily Life

7. See video to learn more about Fishing
The Lenape were skilled fisherman. They made fishing hooks out of bone and deer antlers. They also made harpoons, fishwiers and fish baskets to help them catch fish. In addition to catching fish, they also caught turtles. They used the shells of turtles as bowls and cups.
See video to learn more about Fishing
Daily Life

8. See video to learn more about Gathering
The Lenape were farmers. They planted crops such as the Three Sisters. The women were in charge of planting and harvesting the crops. They also gathered things that grew in the wild such as roots and berries. Often times, they would place their infants in cradleboards while working in the fields.
See video to learn more about Gathering
Daily Life

9. See video to learn more about Dugout Canoes
The Lenape made Dugout canoes which they used for fishing and transportation. They made these canoes out of tree trunks. First they removed the bark from the tree trunk Then they hollowed out the center of a tree trunk through the use of fire and tools. Dugout canoes were very strong and could hold several people.
See video to learn more about Dugout Canoes
Daily Life

10. See video to learn more about Medicine
The Lenape were skilled in the art of healing. They used plants and various other things found in nature to heal themselves when they were sick. They also had a shaman to help them when natural remedies failed.
See video to learn more about Medicine
Daily Life

11. What became of the Lenape?
With the growth of trade between the Lenape people and European traders, hostilities grew over hunting on Lenape lands, led many native people to leave their land. In addition, the introduction of disease (including small pox) devastated many Lenape communities. By the mid-1700’s, most of the Lenape nation had perished or dispersed. Today descendants of the Lenape live in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Canada. Many areas (rivers, lakes, towns) which have Lenape names remain as remembrances of these people.

12. Website Links Hunting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF_mSVX9JhE
Fishing:
Gathering:
Dugout Canoes:
Medicine: