Lenape

The Discovery Of This Continent: It’s Results To The Natives

Columbus Landing on Hispaniola

In 1470, Christopher Columbus married Dona Felipa, daughter of a renowned navigator, and settled in Porto Santo, where they shared dreams of discovering lands to the West. Their ambitions fueled Columbus’s determination, leading to his 1492 voyage that resulted in the European discovery of the Americas. However, this event marked the beginning of devastation for native peoples, introducing warfare, disease, and colonization that would decimate their populations and cultures, ultimately transforming their rich, diverse societies into shadows of their former selves.

Walam Olum, Tribal Chronicle

The Walam Olum is the sacred chronicle of the Lenape tribe, meaning “painted tally.” First published in 1836 by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, it purports to be a translation of an ancient Delaware manuscript recorded in pictographs. Despite early skepticism, scholar Daniel Brinton later validated its authenticity as a modern adaptation of traditional narratives. His comprehensive work in 1885 included the pictography, text, and analysis, asserting that the chronicle merits further study as a valuable reflection of Lenape heritage.