Location: The first record of the location of the Delaware was by settlers who identified their homeland as the Delaware River Valley. When the settlers discovered the Delaware, they were a non-migratory tribe. However, over time, the settlers pushed the nation from Delaware through 16 states, including Ontario, to Oklahoma were many of them are located today.
History: The Delaware nation is one of the oldest in the America. That is why they call themselves the Lenni Lenape, which means "original people." The age of the tribe contributes to the great size of the nation. There are three divisions of the tribe. Each one has its own chief and war chief. The Turtle clan is the clan with the head chief, who leads all of the Delaware.
Daily Life: The Lenni Lenape were hunters and, being non-migratory, they were farmers. Their flag carries many symbols that reflect their culture. The mask in the center of the flag represents Mesingw, the "Masked Spirit", who is the guardian of the creatures of the forest. The forest animals were as important to the Delaware as the buffalo were to the natives of the plains.
To hunt, they used spears and bow and arrows. They also fished with bows, arrows and spears as well as fishhooks and brush nets. Fishhooks were made of bones or of dried claws of birds. Arrows and spearheads were made of stone and copper.
Copper was also used to make pipes and ornaments. These were traded along with pottery, dressed deerskin, beads (or wampum) and feather mantels. Their pottery was used to store corn, beans and tobacco, which they grew along with sweet potatoes and squash.
Dyes from certain vegetables and minerals were used for picture writing – the Lenni Lenape’s way to record history and communicate—and to paint themselves for ceremonies and battle.
During battle, the Delaware soldiers would use war clubs, tomahawks, bows and arrows, scalping knives and spears as weapons and sometimes used shields made of thick dried hide. In the beginning, the nation was at ease with the new settlers, but when the settlers began to take what was theirs, the warriors took action. The Lenni Lenape Historical Society and Museum has records of these events.
