Delaware Indians
Throughout my life as a Native American I have experienced many beautiful aspects of life and many terrifying aspects of life. I come from a tribe we call the Delaware's. We were named the Delaware's by the English because we lived on the bay named in honor of Lord de la Warr, governor of the English colony at Jamestown in 1610. We are members of the Algonquian linguistic family and are also known as Lenni Lenape, or the "common people". Throughout my childhood I was told stories of our family and the tribes past. Every story became more and more interesting to me. I wanted to know the entire history of the Delaware's and make sure I would carry on the traditions and lifestyles the best way I could. It has been said that in my great grandfathers time the Delaware's owned and occupied a vast and magnificent territory extending along the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Massachusetts. Before the 1620's the Delaware were very powerful people in the land. The traditional home of our tribe in that time was at the River Basin, an area that extends from what is now Southern New York to Delaware Bay. But the location of our tribe on the Atlantic coast brought the tribe into early contact with the Eng
Americans, driven by a pioneering spirit, continued advancing into Indian Territory claiming land through warfare and treaty. The Delaware tribe has never depended solely upon the chase for subsistence. When I pass away I hope my son will continue on with my journal and perhaps some day a history of our strong and faithful people will exist for others to learn from. My health has become a major problem in the last couple of years. It was during this terrifying time that I was born. The fact that we were compensated for land that we ceded and given new land on which to settle, did not lessen the hardships involved in relocation. For the past 250 some year's enemies have pushed our tribe around this country in every direction. The President ordered us to leave Texas, which caused the Cherokee War of 1839. At some time I am sure the Delaware's were happy with their lives and lived in some form of peace. For several years after my father passed away we continued to have a peaceful relationship with the Mexican officials, as well as other immigrant tribes and Anglo-American colonists. It is said that they lived in one-room bark huts, called wigwams, with a single doorway and a smoke hole the roof. We eat, sleep, and drink for the pride of our people. Stories tell me that they were once dominant and free of evil, but as for now life is a constant struggle day in and day out. We settled near Cape Girardeau for several years until we drifted into Texas around 1820 and settled in the northeast corner.
Common topics in this essay:
Delaware Bay,
Cape Girardeau,
Walking Purchase,
Nations Iroquois,
Penn Quakers,
Cherokee Nation,
Lenni Lenape,
President Houston,
Illinois Missouri,
Delaware's English,
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indian territory,
bows arrows,
native homeland,
walking purchase,
steam baths,
living quarters,
aspects life,
ceded land,
native americans,
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Acceptance Essays
