The Lenni Lenape The Lenni Lenape are part of the Algonquian family group. They are sometimes known as the Delaware. The Lenni Lenape lived in present day New Jersey and Pennsylvania as well as parts of other modern day eastern seaboard States. They divided their year into four parts [spring, summer, fall, and winter] using the moon for calculations. The four seasons were broken into months using the lunar cycle. Spring began the year which the Lenni Lenape titled, "the youth of the year". It was the time when the flowers and planted returned. The Lenni Lenape who lived along the Atlantic ocean and other coastal areas called March the "shad moon/month" because the shad would swim upriver to spawn at this time. The Lenni Lenape that lived farther inland in more mountainous regions would call March the "running of the sap moon/month" or the "sugar-making moon/month" because at this time the harvest of maple sap would begin. May was known as the "planting moon/month". The Lenni Lenape would measure the leaves of the white oak tree to determine when it was time to begin planting the crops, especially the maize. Along with the maize (corn), potatoes, beans, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, melons, cabbage, and turnips were grown. August was the "roasting ears moon/month" and it was a time of great joy and celebration as the maize was ready to be roasted and eaten.

The Shawnee The Shawnee are also part of the Algonquian family group. Their name in the Algonquian language means, “Southerners” as they were one of the southern cultures/tribes of the Algonquian. The four seasons were vital to Shawnee life. They used the arrival of winter to begin their move from the larger villages of the spring, summer, and fall to smaller camps that allowed for better distribution of resources especially food. In spring, the small winter groups would return and reform at their villages. The Shawnee lived along the Ohio River valley as well as several other smaller river valleys east of the Mississippi. Their seasonal villages were located in these valleys near this fertile river soil. At the beginning of spring, the men and women would clear the land for planting. No draft animals were used but tools such as the hoe and a digging tool aided in the planting. The women planted the seeds, cultivated the land, and harvested the crop. They planted and harvested maize (corn), squash, pumpkins, beans, and other crops. The three crops that they valued most were maize, beans, and squash. Corn was their most important crop. It was said that the Shawnee had “rows and rows of cornstalks” along the river. The finest ears of corn were saved and not eaten. The kernels from the corns were then used for next year’s crop. Most of the Shawnee ceremonies centered on the growing cycle of their crops. There were ceremonies and rituals for the maple tree, strawberry, beans, squash and various other plants. The corn ceremonies were the most vital to the Shawnee. At the beginning of spring, the Shawnee held their Bread Dance to appeal for an abundant crop. At the end of spring/beginning of summer, the Shawnee would perform their Green Corn Dance. This ceremony took place when the corn began to ripen. It was seen as a continuation of previous ceremonies and hopefully with the performance of this dance, the harvest would be successful. Offerings of fresh vegetables were often made at the ceremony.

Bibliography Encyclopedia Britannica. Volume 13: Accounting to Architecture and Volume 26: Pre-Columbian – Sacred; Macropedia: Knowledge in Depth. University of Chicago, Chicago. 1990 Fulkerson, Chuck. The Shawnee. Rourke Publications; Vero Beach, Florida: 1992 Heckewelder, John. The History, Manners, and Cutoms of the Indian Nations Who Once Inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States. Arno Press and New York Times; New York: 1818, reprinted 1971.