The Lenape Nation: Past, Present and Future

Consider the following show an acknowledgment – of people. For the foundations of 400 years of New York City history were built upon the homeland of the Lenni-Lenape, the tribal stewards of a vast natural area stretching from eastern Pennsylvania to western Long Island. 

The Lenape were among the first in northeast North America to be displaced by white colonists — the Dutch and the English. By the late 18th century, their way of life had practically vanished upon the island which would be known by some distorted vestige of a name they themselves may have given it – Manahatta, Manahahtáanung or Manhattan.

But the Lenape did not disappear. Through generations of great hardship they have persevered.

In today’s show we’ll be joined by two guests who are working to keep Lenape culture and language alive throughout the United States, including here on the streets of New York

— Joe Baker, enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians and a co-founder of the Lenape Center, an organization creating and presenting Lenape art, exhibitions and education in New York. 

— Ross Perlin, linguist and author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York

LISTEN NOW: THE LENAPE NATION

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FURTHER LISTENING

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For more information on the subjects discussed in today’s show, visit the Lenape Center and the Endangered Language Alliance.

Joe Baker discusses the cultural significance and history of indigenous seeds and the jewelry they created in this video from the Brooklyn Public Library:

Ross Perlin discussing his book Language City:

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FURTHER READING

Ross Perlin/Language City: The Fight To Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York

Ned Blackhawk / The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History
Pekka Hämäläinen / Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America
Kathleen Duval / Native Nations: A Millennium in North America
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz/ An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States