Kansas Delaware

10/14/2026

A late Indigenous People’s Day post (I never get tired of watching these!)

Echo Long Soldier-Sitting Bear, an Oglala Lakota Marine veteran, da...

10/12/2026

October 12, 2026. Indigenous People’s Day. Celebrate your Kansas Delaware heritage and culture. Take a walk, observe nature, enjoy the peace of listening to what Mother Nature offers in the wind and communication among the wildlife, and thank the Creator for giving you this opportunity. This post below brings to mind our heritage on this special day.

From the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian:

"American Indian," "Indian," "Native American," or "Indigenous?"
Which is correct?

There is no single correct term to refer to Indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere. Different terms may be used in different countries. “American Indian,” “Indian,” and “Native American,” are primarily used in the U.S.

The best term is always what an individual person or community uses to describe themselves.

“Indian” was used by explorer Christopher Columbus because he mistakenly believed he had sailed to India. Although the term is still used by individuals and communities in the U.S., it is not a preferred term in Canada and countries in Central and South America.

Canadians, too, have addressed the question of names—many Native Canadians, especially Métis (people of Indigenous and French descent) and Inuit people, reject the designation “Indian”. Canadians have developed a range of terms, including “First Nations,” and “First Peoples.”

Today, “Indian,” “American Indian” and “Native American” are legal terms with very specific meanings. As an example, U.S. law defines “Native American” to include Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders from U.S. territories and possessions. Although they are included under this term, these groups generally do not self-identify as Native Americans.

Similarly, Alaska Natives do not generally self-identify as Native Americans or Indians. More than 200 Alaska Native tribal entities belonging to 11 distinct cultural groups share core values and traditions shaped by their connection to the land that is markedly different from that of Native peoples of the contiguous U.S.

The increased use of “American Indian” and “Native American” grew out of political movements of the 1960s and 1970s. These terms unified tribal nations and communities who shared similar struggles and challenges. The word "Indigenous" is a broader term that has become more prominent, especially with younger generations, and has offered a way for communities to build solidarity globally.

Like languages, the meaning and usage of these terms and others will continue to evolve over time.

The name of our museum can be traced back to the collection of George Gustav Heye (1874–1957), founder of the Museum of the American Indian in New York City in 1916. The name of the museum was retained in the transfer of the museum collection from a private institution to the Smithsonian Institution.

Legislation establishing the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian was co-sponsored by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and Rep. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne) and was signed into law in 1989.

Find answers to more questions like this one in our publication “Do All Indians Live in Tipis?” available for purchase in our museum stores. The flags of hundreds of Indigenous communities can be seen throughout our Washington, D.C., museum.

Learn more at AmericanIndian.si.edu anytime or visit us in New York City or on the National Mall.

The NMAI fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples.

10/07/2026

Here is your October, 2026, Lenape Language Lesson from Susan Webb.

First off, it's a special time of year and this is a basic repeat of the Oct. 2025 lesson.
"It is a good day. /Wëli kishku." ( weather term). We're into Autumn and everything it brings; trees turning and leaves dropping, the Fall harvest and important celebratory gatherings.
Please visit www.talk-lenape.org for more instruction, stories and jokes shared by Lenape speakers. Wanishi, Jim Rementer!

Audio Lesson:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/182zPmuORjuKBydj-ryDzqgSQ4Di-TIuj/view?usp=drivesdk

09/07/2026

Susan Webb has posted our September, 2026 Lenape Language Lesson.

September (Real Fall Time). Names of Lenape months speak to the seasonal elements of nature; angle of the sun, lunar cycles, migration of animals, and many patterns of nature that determined a "calendar" for Lenape throughout many millenia.
Briefly, days-of-the-week that rotated and revolved around a traditional day of worship would arrive with Europeans and missionaries.
Days-of-the-week:
We covered MON.(Mantèke) TUE. (Tustëke) & WED.(Lelai) in January's lesson, so we'll bring it home with this lesson and add the phrase, "Today is....".

Please visit www.talk-lenape.org to hear Lenape speakers who grew up speaking Lenape. They are "authentic" to use a current buzzword. (source: LTD Lesson #11-Time&Pronouns). Wanìshi to Jim Rementer.
Knewël owiye!
See you soon!
sw
(see audio file)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rNbQiY8QzeWt488XO8bVGhZOP1Ps-jag/view?usp=drivesdk

08/06/2026

Wanìshi to Susan Webb for our August, 2026 Lenape Language Lesson!

Let's talk Lenape!" "Alënixsitàm!" (ah-luh-nee-SEE-tum)
It is summer! Children playing outside, spotting fireflies, and having fun.
Visit www.talk-lenape.org and hear words & phrases spoken by Lenape who grew up speaking the language. Wanìshi to Jim Rementer.
"Làpìch owiye!" (luh-PITCH oh-we-YAY!) "See you soon!"
sw (see audio file in first comment)

07/30/2026

This post is from Strong Walker:

People have this idea that traditional tribal leadership was just chiefs telling everyone what to do. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Again, I don’t speak for every Indigenous nation. Every nation has its own traditions. I can only speak from my understanding as a Lenape/Oneida man and with my understanding, and lens.

Traditional leadership was democratic, but not in the way most people think of democracy today. It wasn’t about political parties, campaigns, or majority rule. It was about consensus, responsibility, and making sure the voices of the people were heard before major decisions were made.

One of the biggest things left out of these conversations is the role of the Elder Women. Some nations call them Clan Mothers, others Matriarchs, and there are many other names depending on the nation. Whatever the title, these women carried tremendous responsibility within the community.

It’s important to understand that not every woman was an Elder Woman or a matriarch. Those responsibilities were connected to family lineages in many communities, but they also came with age, wisdom, experience, and the respect of the people. Just as importantly, not every man was a warrior. Some were hunters. Some were fishermen. Some gathered medicines. Some worked alongside and under the guidance of the women in tending the crops. Every person had responsibilities that helped keep the community strong.

As Lenape villages grew, families would sometimes establish new villages. Other times they would join another village through marriage or other kinship relationships. These villages governed themselves while remaining connected to the larger Lenape people through council fires and shared responsibilities.

Within each village there were different circles. There were warrior societies, elder circles, and within those elder circles were both men’s and women’s voices. A chief wasn’t expected to make decisions by himself. His responsibility was to listen.

When major decisions had to be made, especially something as serious as war, a chief would seek the counsel of the Elder Women. After all, they were the life-givers. They were the mothers and grandmothers whose children and grandchildren might be asked to fight, to kill, or to die. Their voices carried enormous weight because the consequences of those decisions would be felt by the entire community.

Each village had its own council fire, but those fires were connected to larger councils where ceremonies were held, disputes were settled, diplomacy took place, and decisions affecting the Lenape as a whole could be discussed.

Traditional leaders weren’t rulers. They were servants of the people. They were expected to work harder than everyone else, sacrifice more than everyone else, be the first to volunteer for difficult responsibilities, and often the last to eat after everyone else had been fed.

That’s what leadership looked like.

It wasn’t about power. It wasn’t about titles. It wasn’t about telling people what to do. It was about carrying the responsibility of the people and making sure every voice that needed to be heard was heard.

That’s a lesson worth remembering.

07/02/2026

July’s Lenape Language Lesson from Susan Webb:

Hè! Hope you enjoyed and learned from last month's Lenape/English Match-Up quiz. Gather the kids and grandkids for this month's lesson! Enlarge it on your device for the best learning experience.

The summer solstice has arrived. The birds, the insects, and the plants are in a very active pattern and we're going to "see" things this month.

Note:The elders said the insects will bother a person if he tells wintertime stories when it is summer.

Visit www.talk-lenape.org. Wanìshi to Jim Rementer.
(see audio file in comments)

06/08/2026

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 10 AM at the Wyandotte County History Museum!

06/04/2026

An interesting activity with local Native American history in Wyandotte County celebrating our nation’s 250th Anniversary coming up!

06/01/2026

Here’s your June Language Lesson from Susan Webb:

Hè! Alënixsitàm! (Hello! Let's talk Lenape!)
I'll start with the BONUS phrase to practice for Summer:
Hot and humid day/ nulëmëlànte (noo-luh-muh-LUND-ay)
This lesson is a review for many of you with several of my favorites. The Lenape/English match-up word quiz w/answers is also a review, as is the Lenape prayer from the heart, so don't worry about memorizing it as written, but visit the LTD-Lesson #12- Lenape Prayers if you're so inclined.
Wanìshi for your time & interest! Visit www.talk-lenape.org and wanìshi to Jim Rementer.
Làpìch knewël~Susan Webb

See first Comment for Audio Lesson, Lenape/English matchup quiz, and Lenape Prayer.