Delaware Indian "Walking Purchase"

  

    

For our study in The World Turned Upside Down, I have decided to focus on the Delaware Walking Purchase. According to the book, the Lenni Lenape Indians of New Jersey and Pennsylvania signed approximately 800 deeds of land to colonist between 1630 and 1767. Thomas Penn, certainly aware of the vast amount of land treaties, claimed to have found a treaty from 1686 claiming that his fathers and their heirs  were granted lands "as far as a man can go in a day and a half." Basically, the treaty allowed Penn and others to claim as much land as he could cover on foot in the time allotted.

   

The Pennsylvanians involved, however, took advantage of the generosity of the treaty. Instead of sending a man out to walk for a day and a half, they cleared  a path ahead of time and chose three runners to cover as much land as possible. By the end of the allotted time, they had covered 65 miles, taking the last lands the Indians had claim to in the upper Delaware and Lehigh valleys. 

Though the Delaware Indians filed a complaint against the Walking Purchase, they were met with a rude reply making it clear that their "opinion" regarding rights to the land was not of value, and neither was their culture. 

More info:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/documents_from_1681_-_1776,_colonial_days/20421/the_walking_purchase/998175

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-216

My thoughts, or lack thereof, on Cherokee

I must admit, I was slightly disappointed in the class trip to Cherokee. I suppose I had certain expectations. Maybe I expected to see some sort of resemblance to the materials I've been reading in this class. I had a mental image of peacefulness, and generally just something different than what I am accustomed to.
But I didn't find that in Cherokee. Certainly the museum was fascinating. There were so many things I had never seen or learned, and I was captivated. Cherokee, though, is not a museum. Cherokee, as I saw it, was basically like every other town I've experienced. There are several shops, restaurants, and various other income-based sites. The history was there; I suppose that sets it apart from other towns.

My expectations were based on books. though. What was I to expect? Nothing ever stays the same. I suppose I had let myself become so wrapped up in the culture of old, that seeing its absence in a place that I assumed would harbor it was disappointing. The land was either taken over by business (the casino being the biggest business around) or poorly taken care of (the mound), and I saw very few Indians. Of course, there was the Indian standing on the side of the robe in "traditional" Indian attire holding a sign offering pictures with a "real Indian."

Id like to say I've been able to interpret my thoughts on Cherokee and the experience I had there, but I am not sure I can. The whole experience seems quite overwhelming really. Pinpointing my thoughts or feelings about the town is not something I have been able to do.

But I will not forget Cherokee. I have actually made plans to return soon. I want to see more, experience more, and perhaps wrap my mind around the way that place affects me.

Living Stories of the Cherokee:Origin of the Milky Way

The etiological myth that Junaluska translates is short and simple, but reveals a great deal about the purpose of such tales. Not only does this story reveal it s etiological purpose by explaining the origination of the Milky Way and a description of its appearance, but it reveals an even deeper truth (something typical of American Indian etiological myths, at least in my limited experience). 

Looking at this photo, it is easy to see why this would be compared with the corn trail left behind by the dog. 

The moral of the Milky Way story, at least in my opinion, is that beautiful things can emerge from the most unlikely circumstances. Grinding meal is not an easy task...

This video is a tad long, but it offers a good look at what goes into grinding meal.

I can only imagine after watching the above video how angry someone would be if even a handful were stolen.  

The story could also be taken to mean that when justice is served, beauty is restored to the earth. The dog was punished for his theft when the villagers whipped him, and what followed was the spilling of the meal that led to what is now called the Milky Way. If not for the punishment, the beauty of the most famous galaxy known to mankind would not have been know (according to this tale). 

The story I chose for this week was quite short, but I was not only fascinated by the tale.

Marie Junaluska

http://www.cherokeecommunityie.org/Flyers/Tawodi_Newsletter_2010/Tawodi_Newsletter_Feb_March_Issue_2010.pdf

The above link leads to the newsletter that Junaluska translated original letters for. It is an interesting newsletter and could be a great resource for anyone looking at current Cherokee life.

http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/node/1122

Blue Ridge Heritage Area!