Lenape and the Swedes in NJ

Lenape and the Swedes in NJ Once the Dutch and the Swedes began to settle in New Jersey, life as the Lenape Indians knew it would forever change. The article, "The Lenape and the Swede: Indian and White Relations in the Delaware River Region, 1638-55", by Frank J. Esposito illustrates how once the Swedes began to settle there was a steady deterioration of the Lenape culture. When the Swedes first arrived the Lenape were already …

…warfare, and the ones who were left were very different from the original Lenape. They were no longer the peaceful and spiritual tribal community they had once been. They had been at war with both the Minquas and the Swedes. Some had left their religion behind and many others were left to question it. And they were left with contempt over the illness and misfortune that had plagued them since the Swedes arrival. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**