Beginning in mid 19th century the Delaware started imitating the bags used by the Europeans.     Some of these bags were made using six strips sewn together and bound or laced at the top to form a drawstring that held it closed thus giving the appearance like a   "tulip".     Some as in this example,   were made in a reverse weave process in which the threads form a mesh on the inside which forces the beads to the outside.     Only a very few people today know how this is done.     This fine example was made in 1854 by Chief Little Soldier's great,   great grandmother.

      This ceremonial rattle made in the late 19th century,   was made by soaking a piece of birch bark and is laced with sinew or catgut and filled with rice,   used in sweat lodge ceremonies.     The bead work on the stem was made by Princess Manitsah of the Shawnee U.R.B in 1998 but is of a type different from the typical  "spiral applique"   such as is the peyote stitch.     This type of straight stitch was invented by Princess White Deer of the Munsee Delaware in the mid 1970's and is unique to our tribe.

      This fine shoulder bag from the mid 70's,   shows the symbol of the "wolf" and contained more then 64 thousand beads when made in 1975 and the   "pulled loom"   bead work was done by Chief Little Soldier in 1998.     The wolf was done in traditional applique.     The bag is of white elk and the strap was made by   "Flowering Corn"   of the Munsee Delaware,   Western Division,   Colorado.

     The box turtle represents the earth and the shell filled with small rocks or rice was used in many events and the bottom was usually made of hide.     In this case,  elk  -  circa 1910.

     Eagle feathers play an important role in all traditional Native American ceremonies.     This is the tribe's ceremonial feather with the straight bead weave and elk fringe,  made by Princess Manitsah.     Feather given to Chief Little Soldier by Turtle Clan Chief   "Double Knife".

      Traditionally the apron came into use after the arrival of the Euros and replaced the   "breachclout";  a piece of leather that was pulled between the legs and held up with a leather tie or belt,  as was the apron and used with   "leggins"   in the winter or cool weather.    This one has the traditional red and black colors of the Lenape

      This turtle pipe rattle using the shell of a   "pond turtle"   was given to Chief Little Soldier by a member of the Eastern division   (ELN).    This pipe was used for non-ceremonial events.

      This type of vest became popular in the 1870's and were usually made of some lighter weight leather,  such as deer or elk calf or belly sections.    This made it easier to bead on or through.     This one is of elk calf and is owned by Chief Little Soldier and the back represents both his clan and his name.    The front is of the typical woodland floral design.    Also,  but not shown here,   were the vests of materials similar to the apron above which is made of felt and satin or ribbon.     Today the felt verity is the more common.

      Framework,  as described in the text. the houses,  Wigwam of the Munsee and the Wikon of the Shawnee,  were constructed similar but on a larger scale.    Sadly,   this sweat lodge,   built on the Shawnee land in near Urbana,  Ohio by Chief Little Soldier and the Shawnee,  was destroyed by worthless vandals in 1996

      Typical of the Lanape family around 1899.  Most of the people,  with the exception of the Kansas Delaware in the picture of which we have no information,  lived to more then a hundred years old,  with the last ones dying in the 1970's