The Original People

The are several tribes of indigenous people that inhabited the area of land we now call Pennsylvania. These tribes include The Delaware, Erie, Honniasant, Iroquois, Saluda, Saponi, Shawnee, Susquehanna, Tuscarora, Tutelo and the Wenrohronon.

The Lenni-Lenape were part of the Delaware Tribe. Their name translates to "Common or original people" depending on your source.  They lived in eastern Pennsylvania along the Delaware, in the Pocono mountains, southern New York and New Jersey. Lenape called their land Lenapehoking, meaning Land of the Lenape.

Some Lenape lived in Villages with populations of as much as 2 to 3 hundred people. Some lived in small bands of 25 or 50 individuals. They built wigwams and longhouses as homes for families, They also erected structures called pimewakan, what we would call a sweat lodge. These structures would be used for treating illnesses, bathing and for ritual. upon entering water would be poured on heated rocks. This would create steam. The steam would sweat out the illness or "evil".  Afterward they would plunge into water in order to close their pores and then wrap themselves in blankets and rest.
The Lenape had rituals and ceremonies for almost everything.  One to honor good spirits another to scare away evil ones. One for the first harvest and one for a marriage.

There were three basic clans of the Lenni-Lenape people:
The wolf clan, also called the Munsee. They were known as the people of the stony country. They lived in northern Pennsylvania on the upper Delaware river at the Delaware water Gap.
The Turtle clan, also called the Unami were known as the people down the river. They lived in the area north of what is now known as Philadelphia.
The Turkey clan, also known as the unalachtigo were known as the people who lived near the ocean. They lived in what we know now as Wilmington Delaware.

William Penn, had his own impressions of the indigenous people of Pennsylvania. In 1683 he decided to take a tour of his colony and ventured into the interior of Pennsylvania. Later when he had returned, he sent a letter to "The Free Society of Traders" in which he related his impressions of the Pennsylvania Indians.

In appearance he felt they were of "singular proportion; they tread strong and clever, and mostly walk with a lofty chin."  Penn stated that their complexion was black, "but by design, as the gipsies in England. They grease themselves with Bear's fat clarified; and using no defence against the sun and wather, their skins must needs be swarthy."

He felt their Language was "Like short-hand in writing, one word serveth in the place of three."  He also said of their language "I must say that I know not a language spoken in Europe, that hath words of more sweetness or greatness, in accent and emphasis, than theirs."

However, being the Quaker that he was, Penn felt "These poor people were under a dark night in things relating to religion."  This was probably the one area that Penn felt their condition was unfortunate but in the letter he was very positive about most areas of their culture.

Sources:

James Quinn,"William Penn Visits The Indians" U.S.History.org, http://www.ushistory.org/penn/penn_journey.htm (accessed September 2011).

Lenape Lifeways Inc., "About The Lenapes" http://www.lenapelifeways.org/lenape1.htm (accessed September 2011).