Munsee facts for kids

The Munsee (also called Minsi or Muncee) are a group of people who were part of the larger Lenape nation. They were one of the three main groups of the Lenape. The Munsee originally lived near the upper part of the Delaware River, in areas like Minisink, and nearby lands in what is now New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Their main animal symbol was the wolf, so they were often called the Wolf tribe of the Lenape. They were known for being brave warriors and often led discussions about war. The Munsee played an important role when European settlers first arrived in New York and New Jersey.

Where the Munsee Lived

The Munsee people originally lived where the Delaware River begins, in parts of today's New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Their lands reached south to the Lehigh River. They also lived on the west side of the Hudson River, from the Catskill Mountains almost to New Jersey.

Their neighbors were the Mohican and Wappinger people to the north and east. Other Lenape groups lived to their south and southeast. The Munsee were seen as a protective group between the southern Lenape and the powerful Iroquois Confederacy. The Iroquois lived in what is now New York, south of the Great Lakes. The Munsee's main village for meetings was Minisink, likely in what is now Sussex County, New Jersey. As more European settlers arrived, most Munsee people moved south to be with their Lenape relatives along the Delaware River.

Munsee History

In 1669, the Munsee helped the Esopus people fight against the Dutch settlers. They were defeated by a leader named Martin Cregier during these conflicts, known as the Esopus Wars.

Moving Westward

Around 1740, many Munsee people were forced to leave the Delaware River area. This happened because of a controversial agreement called the Walking Purchase. They then settled on the Susquehanna River, on lands given to them by the Iroquois. Soon after, they moved further west to join the main Lenape nation near the Ohio River. Most of the Munsee joined this larger group. By 1756, those Munsee who remained in New York were given lands in Schoharie County and joined with the Mohawk people.

Christian Munsee and Other Groups

A group known as the Christian Munsee were converted to Christianity by Moravian missionaries. They formed their own separate community. Many of them moved to Canada during the American Revolution. Other Munsee people joined the Ojibwe and Stockbridge people in Wisconsin. Most of the Munsee joined the larger Lenape nation. They took part in the Lenape's wars and forced movements that followed.

Munsee Today

In the early 1900s, the Munsee who still used their name were in three main groups in Canada and the United States. Two of these groups had joined with parts of other nations. This means their numbers were not counted separately.

Today, these groups include:

• The Munsee of the Thames, in Ontario, Canada. They are now known as the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, a recognized First Nation.
• The Chippewa and Munsee in Franklin County, Kansas. They had a shared federal reservation from 1859 but ended their tribal relations in 1900.
• The Stockbridge and Munsee, at the Green Bay Agency, Wisconsin. The Stockbridge–Munsee Community is a federally recognized tribe in Wisconsin, United States.