Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape facts for kids

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape people are a group of Native American tribes. They are made up of the Nanticoke from the Delmarva Peninsula and the Lenape from southern New Jersey and northern Delaware.

This tribal group is recognized by the state of New Jersey. They have had their own elected governments since the 1970s. However, the United States government has not yet officially recognized them.

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape are descendants of Algonquian-speaking peoples. These ancestors stayed in or returned to their old homeland near the Delaware Bay. Many of their relatives were forced to move to the central United States and Canada.

The Nanticoke and Lenape were among the first Native Americans in what is now the United States to stand up against European settlers taking their land. They were also among the first to sign treaties to try and live peacefully together. Sadly, they were also among the first to be forced onto special lands called reservations. These were on the Delmarva Peninsula and in New Jersey.

Today, the tribe's main office is in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The history of their ancestors in this area goes back thousands of years.

The leaders of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe made a rule against having casino gaming. Many other tribes use casinos to earn money for their programs and people.

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe is not connected to another group called the "Unalachtigo Band of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation." The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe does not see them as an official tribe.

Lenape History in Southern New Jersey and Northern Delaware

The Lenape ancestors of today's tribe lived in areas that are now New Jersey, Delaware, southeastern New York, and eastern Pennsylvania. This was when Europeans first arrived. They called themselves Lenni-Lenape, which means "Original People" or "Common People."

In the early 1600s, English settlers started calling them “Delaware Indians.” This name came from their location along the Delaware River. The English named the river after one of their leaders, Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.

Scientists who study old cultures have found proof that different groups of indigenous peoples have lived in this area for up to 12,000 years. These groups were likely the ancestors of the Lenape people.

Lenape Language Groups and Territories

The Lenape people spoke three main types of their language. Each language group lived in a specific area. Each main group was made up of smaller, independent communities. These communities were connected to each other.

Together, they lived in a large area. This stretched from the northern part of their ancient homeland, near the start of the Delaware River, down to the Delaware Bay. It also went north into New Jersey, around New York City, and western Long Island.

The Munsee people lived in the north. Their name means "People of the Stony Country." The Unami (People Down River) and Unalachtigo (People Who Live Near the Ocean) lived in the central and southern parts of the homeland.

The Lenni-Lenape are part of the Algonquian language family. Most Native American groups along the Atlantic coast also belong to this family. Many Algonquian tribes called the Lenape their “grandfathers” or “ancient ones.” They are thought to be one of the earliest nations to develop in the northeastern part of North America.

European colonists often asked the Lenape to help solve disagreements between other tribes. They admired the Lenape for being welcoming and good at diplomacy.

Forced Relocation and Reservations

In the 1700s, British colonists set aside the Brotherton Reservation in Burlington County, New Jersey for the Lenape. This was from 1758 to 1802. But colonists kept moving onto Lenape land.

In 1802, some Lenape moved from this area to Utica, New York. There, they joined the remaining Stockbridge-Munsee people. Later, in the early 1800s, both groups agreed to move to Wisconsin. Their descendants still live on a reservation there today.

Nanticoke History from Delmarva to Southern New Jersey

The ancestors of the Nanticoke people lived in this area for thousands of years. The Nanticoke ancestors of today's Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribe lived along the Indian River in southeastern Delaware. They also lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

They were called the “Tidewater People.” Like many nearby tribes, the Nanticoke share old roots with the Lenape. They also came from the Algonquian-language speaking peoples.

The Nanticoke people fought against European colonists entering their homeland as early as the 1650s. After many years of struggle, Nanticoke people still live today in Delaware, New Jersey, and other parts of the United States and Canada.

Nanticoke Migration and Unity

Nanticoke people started moving in the early 1600s. They moved from the Eastern Shore of Maryland through southeastern Delaware. They did this to avoid European settlers. By the 1800s, many had settled along the Delaware River and in parts of southern New Jersey.

Because of this movement, Nanticoke people married and joined with the Lenni-Lenape who had stayed in New Jersey.

As early as 1704, the English colonial governments limited the Nanticoke living on the Delmarva Peninsula. They were restricted to the Chicone, Broad Creek, and Indian River reservations. These reservations were not enough to stop colonial settlers from taking more land. So, they were eventually closed down.

The Native American communities stayed in the areas of the old reservations. They became "isolate" groups. Over time, they married people from other backgrounds in their neighborhoods. These new family members became part of their culture.

Remaining in the Homeland

Many members of the tribe were killed or forced to leave their homelands. This was because of ongoing conflicts with European settlers. Some moved to Canada after the American Revolutionary War. American settlers turned against all Native Americans because some Iroquois nations had sided with the British.

Some Lenape moved west to Ohio. From there, they were later removed to Indian Territory in Kansas and Oklahoma.

However, some were able to keep living in their homeland. Those who stayed survived by trying to fit into the main culture. They became farmers and tradesmen. Many Nanticoke-Lenape Indians became Christians. But they still remembered and valued many of their old tribal ways.

Tribal Churches and Community

Tribal church groups helped the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape keep their culture alive. They also helped them stay connected with related tribal communities nearby. These churches also helped them continue a form of tribal leadership.

One of these old tribal churches is Saint John United Methodist Church in Fordville, New Jersey. It is the only Native American Church in New Jersey recognized by the United Methodist Church.

By the 1900s, most of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe lived in and around Cumberland and Salem counties in New Jersey. They were connected to the Nanticoke and Lenape tribal communities in Sussex and Kent counties in Delaware.

Governance and Recognition

In 1978, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe created a non-profit group. It is called “The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians of New Jersey.” This group helps the community. It is for education, social activities, and cultural purposes. Its goal is to help Native Americans living in the Delaware Valley. It also gives help to Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians in need.

The group works to build cultural and learning places. It also aims to improve health, housing, human rights, and financial security. They also work to buy and protect land and water areas. This helps keep them natural and open, honoring the heritage of Native Americans in the Delaware Valley.

State Recognition and International Ties

In 1982, the tribe believed it received official recognition from the State of New Jersey. This happened through a special resolution from the State Senate. This recognition was confirmed again when the tribe was included in the New Jersey State Commission on American Indian Affairs.

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe is the largest Native American tribe in New Jersey. They have a good relationship with the country of Sweden. Sweden recognizes their tribal identity and independence. Sweden recently celebrated a friendship treaty with the Tribe that is over 350 years old. This treaty dates back to when Swedes and Finns first settled in the Land of the Lenape. This was before Dutch and British powers came to the area.

Tribal Council and Membership

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe is led by a Tribal Council. This council has nine members who are elected. All council members must be official citizens of the tribe. The tribe has decided that membership depends on having a certain amount of tribal Indian blood and proven family ties to core families.

The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe has more than 3,000 official citizens. These citizens live in over 1,500 households.

Other Nanticoke-Lenape descendants and extended family members also live in southern New Jersey and nearby areas. They may not be official members, but they can join many tribal activities.

According to the 2000 United States Census, about 9,000 other people in the Cumberland County, New Jersey area identified as Native American. This area is recognized by the state as having a large Native American population.