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Native American Tribes of Delaware

Welcome to our Delaware State Facts section, part of an educational project designed to provide information about indigenous people in different U.S. states. Follow the links to the right of our tribal map for more information about the language, culture and history of each Delaware tribe, or scroll below the map for Delaware Indian activities including a wordsearch, fact sheets, and words from the Native American languages of Delaware. Feel free to print any of these materials out for classroom use!

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American Indians in Delaware

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

About Our Maps

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.

State-recognized Indian tribes and communities in Delaware include:

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

The Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware:
4164 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite 6
Dover, DE 19901

Teaching and learning activities about Delaware Indian tribes:

Feel free to print these out to use at school!

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 Tribe and Delaware Tribe.

Recommended books about Delaware Native Americans
(Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links)

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

Encyclopedia of Delaware Indians:
Thorough reference book about the Native American tribes of Delaware.

Long Journey Home: Oral Histories of Contemporary Delaware Indians:
Collection of stories told by Delaware Indian people about their tribal history and traditions.

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

Delaware's Forgotten Folk: The Story of the Moors and Nanticokes:
Interesting history book about the African-American and Native American people of Delaware.

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.

Legends of the Delaware Indians:
Collection of Lenape Indian 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.

Tribal Migrations: A map of the forced travels of the Lenape Indians and other northeastern tribes.

Nanticoke Pow Wow: Photos and videos from the annual Native American powwow festival in Delaware.

Wigwams and Longhouses: Photos and information about the traditional housing types used by Delaware Indians.