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The Lenapes: |
Part 1The Lenape: Prehistory When the Europeans came to North America they saw a civilization unlike their own. The Europeans saw the Indians as a useful tool in order to become wealthy and prosperous. They exploited the Indians and their land. However, prior to the Europeans appearance to North America there were men and women who roamed the land freely without fear of the white man and his culture. The Indians of the Hudson Valley spoke a language known as the Algonquian. This Algonquian civilization is said to have been migrants similar to the habitat in Northeastern Asia. They crossed to North America and moved South to the Great Lakes. Then they proceeded to move into the Northeast. " Historically, the upper and middle Hudson Yalley was ocoupied by Algonquian-speaking groups of the Mahican confederacy" (Funk 361). These Indians were known to have been in the Northeast area for at least 11,000 years. The climate during this movement produced severely cold winters and brief summers. The Hudson Valley tribes were part of the Algonquian confederacy. Comprised in this Algonquian band were the Delaware, Mahican, and Wappinger. All three tribes had further sub-divisions of smaller tribal bands. The three tribes were similar in culture, customs, and language. Furthermore, because of their multiple similarities, there is still confusion among scholars as to which bands belong to which tribes. The Delaware tribe was the largest of the three Algonquian speaking tribes. The term Delaware comes from the name of the river where many of these indigenous peoples lived. They referred to themselves as the Lenni-Lenape, or "true men" (Waldman 78). There were three major sub-divisions in the Delaware tribe: Munsee (wolf), Unami (turtle), and Unalacitgo (Turkey). These three divisions had further sub-divisions. The general populous of Algonquian speaking tribes referred to the Delaware as 'Grandfather" because they considered Delawares' territory as the Algonquian original home land. This geographic region was located west of the Hudson River stretching south past the present day city of Philadelphia. The next tribe of the Algonquian band was the Wappingers. They occupied the land east of the Hudson River and shared the same life styles of the Delaware. The Wappinger lived between Manhattan Island and Poughkeepsie, now the southern part of New York State. The Wappinger were flanked by their two Algonquian neighbors, the Mahican to the north and the Delaware to the south. The Wappingers traded with both the Delaware to the south and their northern neighbor, the Mahicans. The Mahicans or Mohegans inhabited the northern end of the Hudson Valley, mainly New York. Their capital was located near present day Albany. Mahican and Mohegan were both different variations for the Algonquian word "wolf'. Unlike their Algonquian allies, they were enemies with their neighbors to the west. The Mahicans were in direct conflict with the Mohawks, that were part of the Iroquois Nation. The Mohawks would often invade the Mohican villages from the west. The Delaware, Wappinger, and Mohican were principally forest hunters and fisherman. They gathered shellfish and various wild foods for their nutrition. The Mohicans were masters of spears and clubs, nets and traps. The Algonquians were big game hunters in which they used various types of clovis spear points and chipped stone. The Algonquian also had many methods of farming. They were known to have planted corn, beans, squash, staple crops, and gathered maple syrup. The Indians also produced lanceolate points which were used as knives and scrapers. These tools were used on barren ground caribou and other forms of game. Over a large period of time, these Indians would split into various different tribes throughout the Northeast. These particular sub-tribes were bound together under a strong headman. Spiritually, the Algonquian and their subsequent sub-tribes believed ln the "Great Spirit" or "Manitou". The "Great Spirit" was considered the supreme being, and lived in everything. They believed they were indebted to that supreme being for everything that was available to them: the water, the bushes, trees, animal life, the moon and the stars. These tribes would hold special ceremonies in which they would worship the "Great Spirit" and other various spirits in order to achieve guidance and strength. They would pay homage to the "Great Spirit" and recite visions during the "Big House" ceremony. This sacred ceremony, was thought to benefit all people, to avert natural catastrophe, and to hold the members of the tribe together. Spiritual power was attributed to a log carved statue known as the Manitoh Kan, which served as an imitation or representation of the "Great Spirit". The tribes did not have a separation between spiritual and secular things, all was spiritual. The culture and life of the tribes were based on their own specific beliefs. Nevertheless, the individual beliefs of the Delaware, Wappinger, and the Mohican did not deviate too significantly to create any gaping differences. The Mohicans often engaged in warfare against the Mohawks for territorial hunting rights, There were also warriors, who roamed the Northeastern area armed with weapons like spears, tomahawks, clubs, and the bow and arrow, However, according to Marist College Professor Thomas Wermuth "they were not in competition with one another." The reason for this was that the Indians had a sound sense of cooperatlon and community. The three Algonquian tribes all traded goods among each other. The architecture of these tribes was arranged in an area that was best suitable for them. Many Algonquian bands were small villages located near the Hudson River. They lived in long bark lodges as well as domed wigwams that they covered with bark or mats of woven plant material. The houses that they made were six meters ln diameter which were adjusted around an open central "plaza." They developed many different methods for using the land around them. They set up water drainage systems and relied on the changes in the natural environment for their livelihood. They also used their methods of agriculture to prevent sediment deposition or erosion. Every eight to twelve years they would relocate willingly and not return until the land and its resources renewed themselves. There are indications that the Indians were enterprising prior to the colonists' arrival to the New World. The Northeastern Indians used mnemonic devices as money and as guarantees of promises or agreements in intertribal councils. These devices consisted of seashells from the Atlantic Ocean and various other obiects. This form of money was called "wampum." From archaeological excavations there is also evidence that the Indians traded with one another. The Indians used shell beads, copper, corn and other products coursed along the New York region's rivers and footpaths. These means of trading were quite frequent in the Hudson Highlands. However, the coming of the Europeans, especially Henry Hudson, put an end to this amiable and customary way of life. Table of Contents Next Part | |