The Schuylkill watershed was inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape people when the European explorers arrived. They were labeled the "Delaware" by the settlers, after the European name for the river alongside which they lived. They were a part of the Algonquin language group, and were under the political influence of the Iroquois Confederation. By and large they were a peaceful people. They were typical hunters and gatherers, although they also practiced farming, raising corn, beans and squash as staples of their diet.

Lapowinsa Tishcohan

These are two of the earliest and best portraits of native Americans, specifically, members of the Lenape tribe. They were painted by Gustavus Hesselius (b. 1682, Sweden, d. 1755, Philadelphia). These paintings were commissioned by John Penn, son of William Penn, founder of Philadelphia. It is thought that John Penn presented these portraits to the two chiefs in order to gain favor with them and secure the release of lands promised to his father in the Treaty of 1686.

Here are a number of topics about the Lenape which may interest you:

• Their Origins and Relationships with other Tribes
• Origins
• Close relatives
• The three tribes - Minsi, Unami & Unalachtigos
• Their Culture
• Language
• Foods
• Religion
• The Arrival of the Europeans
• The Swedes and Dutch
• The English
• Wm Penn and Chief Tamanend

The Quakers and the natives were on good terms. Tamanend gave a wampum belt to Penn to signify the peaceful expectations the natives had for their relationship with the Europeans. Wampum is thought of as money, but it was often used in a ceremonial to mark a special occasion. Not just the Lenape, but many other eastern tribes used it in similar ways - such as the Onieda of New York.
• The treaties & land cessions
• Indian Hannah - reported to be the "last" Lenape who lived in the Schuylkill Watershed area
• The fate of the Lenape
• The Lenape heritage
• The Lenni Lenape Historical Museum
• Lenape Trails which became our highways (29K JPEG)
  (c/o Ray Thompson and Bicentennial Press)
  The Minsi Trail followed the paths taken today by PA 309 and PA 412.
  The route of the Lenni Lenape Path is covered today by PA 611 and US 202.
  The French Creek Path has become PA 29 and PA 23.
• Native Americans links
• The American Indian Science and Engineering Society at North Carolina State University
• Galaxy's list of Native American resources
• Native American Journalists Association
• Native Americans at Princeton University
• Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center
who say about themselves:
"We are a reservation based, non-profit organization in South Dakota serving Native American women and their families.  At the local level, we provide a variety of public health promotion projects, run a domestic violence shelter, organize Youth Wellness Program, offer an adult education program, and include Dakota cultural lessons in our childhood development programs.  We have also led community organizing against environmental racism.  Our largest battle, which culminated in a 1998 Supreme Court Case, was against construction of a local landfill."
• The Society of Native American Culture
• Other Sources
• Although they do not have any information online, you may wish to contact the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. They can be reached at:
  The PA Historical and Museum Commission
  PO Box 1026
  Harrixburg, PA 17108
  717.787.2891
• You can also check with the Churchville Nature Center, which stages re-enactments of Lenape life along the Delaware. You will find them at:
  Churchville Nature Center
  501 Churchville Lane
  Churchville, PA 19053
  215.357.4005

And you can view a map of the watershed with Lenape place names

References:

• Springer, Mark. Watershed: a successful voyage into integrative learning.
• Thompson, Ray. The Walking Purchase Hoax of 1737.
• Wallace, Paul A. W. Indians in Pennsylvania.

Back to: The Schuylkill River