Transcript Slide 1
Lenape Native Americans The First People of NJ 12, 000 years ago the Lenape walked east from Asia across the Land Bridge to Alaska. They were Nomadic people following herds of animals. Generations of people walked east until they found the Atlantic Ocean and could walk no more. •Lenape was thought to mean original or important. •We now know it to mean ordinary. •They originated from a larger tribe called the Algonquians who were known as the Woodland Indians. They called NJ, Sheyechbi or “land along water” with the Atlantic ocean and the Delaware River providing borders. They found that farming was a better way to live and Used that as their main source of food. They always built their villages near a river. This provided water, fish to eat, and travel. Wigwams were built with saplings, bark, animal skins, mud, clay, and grass; they were rounded on top, and had a door but no windows. There was a place for a fire inside with a hole in the roof. Benches were built around the sides. Families talked, told stories, played games, and slept inside of their wigwams. A Long House was a several family dwelling and also served as a village community center for important meetings, and religious ceremonies. Lenape hunted deer and other small game. They used every part of the deer for clothing, food, and tools. Corn was the main crop and some of the ways they prepared it were: •on the cob •cornmeal mush •dumplings •cornbread •popcorn •candy Fishing was popular among the tribe. They used spears, nets, and hooks to catch fish. •The Lenape dried and stored food in baskets and jars. •They also smoked fish to preserve it for the winter months. •Some of the foods that were part of their diet were: corn, beans, squash, fish, berries, deer meat. They believed in a strong family life, everyone was important to the tribe. Roles of Women •farmed •made clothing and pottery •wove baskets •cooked •raised children Roles of Men •cleared the land •built houses •made canoes •defended the village •hunted •fished Roles of Older people—grandparents. •made pottery •Made wampum (money) and tools •educated children Roles of Children •tended babies (babysat) •carried water •picked berries •gathered firewood Education Parents and grandparents taught children jobs and customs of the tribe and how to survive in the wilderness. They didn’t go to a regular “school” like White Rock Transportation •They used the rivers as highways. •Dugout canoes were large trees with inside burned and dugout to travel on the rivers. They were a friendly People •There were no fences •Visitors were always welcome •Always kept a pot of food cooking for visitors The End of our first people. •Europeans took over land and brought diseases. This killed many of the Lenape people. • They were placed on Native American reservations (special land put aside for Indians) all over the United States.