Students get Lenni Lenape lesson

| 29 Sep 2011 | 12:14

    WEST MILFORD — On September 18 students from Claudia Ney’s and Robert William’s U.S. History I classes had a chance to glimpse first hand New Jersey Native American Culture and History. Kevin “Two Steps” O’Connell, director/presenter of the Lenni Lenape Traveling Museum gave a presentation on the Lenni Lenape People of New Jersey. An Honorary Member of the Lenni Lenape tribes, O’Connell brought a vast collection of Lenni Lenape clothing, tools, jewelry, religious items and tools in order to bring to life Lenni Lenape culture. O’Connell told several Lenni Lenape legends in vivid detail, including a fascinating tale of the origin of cranberries. O’Connell also demonstrated how the Lenni Lenape made axes. He finished his presentation with a reading of Lenni Lenape poetry. This presentation was funded through a grant from the West Milford Education Foundation.