Lenape mythology facts for kids

The Lenape people, an Indigenous group from North America, have many traditional stories. These stories, called Lenape mythology, explain how the world was made and how people should live. They are an important part of the Lenape culture and history.

The Creation Story

The Lenape believe that before anything existed, there was only a dark, empty space. In this emptiness lived a powerful spirit named Kishelamàkânk, their creator.

One day, Kishelamàkânk fell into a deep sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of everything we see today: mountains, forests, animals, and even people. He also imagined the special ceremonies people would hold. When he woke up, the darkness was still there. So, Kishelamàkânk decided to create the world exactly as he had dreamed it.

First, he created helper spirits. These were the Grandfathers of the North, East, and West, and the Grandmother of the South. Together, they worked to build the Earth just as Kishelamàkânk had imagined it. One of their last creations was a very special tree. From the roots of this tree came the first man. When the tree bent down and touched the ground, the first woman appeared.

Everyone, both animals and humans, lived peacefully and did their part on Earth. But then, a problem started. There was a magical tooth from a giant bear that could give its owner special powers. Humans began to fight over this tooth. The fighting became so bad that people moved away from each other. They formed new tribes and even spoke new languages.

Kishelamàkânk saw all this fighting. He decided to send a spirit named Nanapush to help bring everyone back together. Nanapush went to the top of a mountain and started the very first Sacred Fire. The smoke from this fire spread far and wide, making all the people of the world curious. They came to see what it was.

When everyone gathered, Nanapush made a special pipe using a sumac branch and a soapstone bowl. The creator gave him tobacco to smoke in it. Nanapush then told the people that whenever they had disagreements, they should sit down and smoke tobacco together in the pipe. This would help them make good decisions that were fair for everyone.

Later, the same bear tooth caused another fight, this time between two powerful spirits: a giant toad and an evil snake. The toad controlled all the waters. During their fight, the toad ate the tooth and the snake. The snake then bit the toad from the inside, causing a huge flood to cover the Earth.

Nanapush saw the destruction. He began climbing a mountain to escape the rising water. As he climbed, he gathered animals he saw and tucked them safely into his sash. At the top of the mountain, he found a cedar tree and started to climb it. As he went up, he broke off branches. When he reached the very top of the tree, he took out his bow. He played it and sang a song that made the floodwaters stop.

Nanapush then wondered where he could put the branches and the animals in the water. The turtle volunteered, saying he would float and everyone could stay on his back. This is why the Lenape people sometimes call the land "Turtle Island."

Nanapush decided the turtle needed to be much bigger for everyone to live on. So, he asked the animals if one of them would dive into the water to bring up some of the old Earth from below. The beaver tried first, but he came up lifeless. Nanapush had to bring him back to life. The loon tried next, but it also came up dead. Lastly, the muskrat tried. He stayed down the longest and also came up lifeless. But, he had a tiny bit of Earth on his nose! Nanapush carefully took this Earth and placed it on the turtle's back. Because of the muskrat's bravery, Nanapush blessed him, saying that muskrats would always do well in the land.

Nanapush then took out his bow again and sang. The turtle began to grow. It kept growing larger and larger. Nanapush sent out animals to try and reach the edge of the new land to see how big it had become. First, he sent the bear. The bear returned in two days, saying he had reached the end. Next, he sent the deer, who came back in two weeks, also saying he had reached the end. Finally, he sent the wolf. The wolf never returned because the land had become so vast. The Lenape believe this is why the wolf howls—it is calling for its ancestor to come back home.

Important Terms

The Lenape people use special words for important parts of their beliefs:

• Kishelemukong is the creator god. He created everything but does not get involved in daily life. Instead, he guides the manitowak.
• The manitowak are the life-spirits of all living things. Kishelemukong created them. People honor the manitowak through ceremonies, rituals, dreams, and games.
• The Metinuwak were special leaders. They were healers and spiritual guides who could talk with the manitowak.
• An ohta is a wooden doll carved each year. People believed these dolls had special powers for healing and good luck.
• A nianque is an animal guide. People might meet their nianque during a vision quest, a special journey to find spiritual guidance.