The New Jersey State Museum in Trenton has a series of fascinating displays about New Jersey’s first inhabitants – the Lenape people. The item pictured here is a modern wooden mortar displayed along with several other artifacts donated in the 20th century by a member of the the Sand Hill Band of Delaware, New Jersey. Modern-day descendants of the Lenape still live in New Jersey. Other Unami and Munsee Lenape now live in Oklahoma, Kansas, Wisconsin and Canada. No matter where they live, they have all worked through the generations to keep the stories, skills and memories of the ancestors alive and thus preserve their culture to the present day.
About the Author: Dr. Anna Braun
Dr. Braun is a retired public school educator with over 35 years of experience teaching students from elementary through college. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Teacher Leadership (EdD) from Walden University. Retirement has given Dr. Braun time to pursue new opportunities, including working with non-profits as an educational consultant as well as conducting historical and genealogical research. A life-long resident of East Brunswick, she and her husband share three adult children, two grandchildren and two rescue cats. Her family loves Philadelphia sports teams. Fly Eagles Fly! Let’s Go Phillies!
