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Native American Tribes of Delaware

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Delaware included:

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The Lenni Lenape tribe (the Delawares)

The Nanticoke tribe

There are no Indian reservations in Delaware today.

Most Delaware Native Americans were forced to migrate westward when European colonists took over the Delaware area. These tribes are not extinct, but except for the descendants of Delaware Indians who assimilated into white society, they do not live in Delaware anymore. Today there are two federally recognized Delaware tribes in Oklahoma and one Delaware Indian tribe in Canada. If you click on the link for each tribe above, you can find more information about them.

Non-recognized Indian tribes and communities in Delaware include:

Nanticoke Indian Association:
Rt. 4, Box 107A
Millsboro, DE 19966

Teaching and learning activities about Delaware Indian tribes:

Feel free to print these out for classroom use!

Delaware Tribes Word Search: Printable puzzle hiding the names of Delaware's Indian tribes.

Delaware Language Greetings: Learn to say "hello" in several Native Delaware languages.

Delaware Native Animals: Learn the Native American names of Delaware animals.

Delaware Indian Facts for Kids: Answers to frequently asked questions about the Indians of Delaware.
We currently have pages for the Nanticoke and Delaware Tribe.

Recommended books about Delaware Native Americans:

Delaware Indians: Introducing Delaware's Native American history and culture to kids.

The Nanticoke Community of Delaware: Anthropology book on the Native Americans of Delaware.

Indians of the Tidewater Country: The story of the native people of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.

The Delaware Indians: A History: In-depth study of native Delaware history, culture, and traditions.

Legends of the Delaware Indians: Collection of Lenape folktales.

Other resources about American Indian history, culture and society in Delaware state:

Delaware Prehistory: Archaeological information about the Delaware Indians from 12,000 BC to the 18th century.

The Delaware Tribes: History and genealogy of American Indians in Delaware.

Back to the North American Indian tribe index
Back to our main map of Native American tribes
Back to the American Indian website for kids

Native American art Indian apparel Indian dwellings Indian hair pictures

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