Native New Yorkers : The Legacy of the Algonquin People of New York

To be stewards of the earth, not owners: this was the way of the Lenape. Considering themselves sacred land keepers, they walked gently; they preserved the world they inhabited. Drawing on a wide range of historical sources, interviews with living Algonquin elders, and first-hand explorations of the ancient trails, burial grounds, and sacred sites, Native New Yorkers offers a rare glimpse into the civilization that served as the blueprint for modern New York. A fascinating history, supplemented with maps, timelines, and a glossary of Algonquin words, this book is an important and timely celebration of a forgotten people. About the Author

Evan T. Pritchard, a descendant of the Micmac People (one of over eighty-four Algonquin Indian Nations), was born in Bethesda, Maryland and has lived in New York City and the Hudson Valley for the past 23 years. On a trip to Canada in 1990, Pritchard began to research his Algonquin heritage. In the course of his studies and interviews with Algonquin elders, Pritchard gained an intimate and personal understanding of Algonquin spirituality and culture, a tradition that may date as far back as 11,000 years. He recounts this journey in his book, No Word for Time: The Way of the Algonquin People (Council Oak Books, 1997).

In 1998 Pritchard founded The Center for Algonquin Culture, and in 1999 he gave his first workshop on the subject of Native New Yorkers at New York’s Open Center. Further research on this subject, along with ongoing consultation with elders and experts, resulted in Pritchard’s most recent book, Native New Yorkers: The Legacy of the Algonquin People of New York (Council Oak Books, 2002).

Pritchard has written frequently for Spirituality and Health Magazine. He has also appeared on many radio and television programs to discuss Algonquin values and traditions, including NPR, CNBC, Voice of America, New Dimensions, and The Wisdom Channel.

Front Cover Title Page Half Title Copyright Contents Introduction The Natives of New York City 1. The Naming of Things 2. How Green Was Manhattan 3. A Paradise for the Living 4. A Walk around Old Manhattan 5. Exploring the Ancient City: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island 6. Verrazzano and His Legacy 7. We Belong to the Earth 8. The Two-colored Snake: A History of the Dutch Occupation of New York 9. The World of the Lenape 10. Sweet and Full of Meaning: the Languages of Manhattan The Legendary Hudson Valley 11. Native New Yorkers East of the Hudson River: A Trip through Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties 12. The Head of the Wolf: Orange and Ulster Counties 13. A Walk Down the Minisink Trail 14. Native New Yorkers of Stony Country: Rockland County 15. Native New Yorkers of the Norththe Mohican: Dutchess, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington, Saratoga, Schenectady, Albany, and Greene Counties Long Island Long Ago 16. The Mysteries of Long Island 17. The Thirteen Tribes of Long Island Conclusion 18. Lenape Exodus Epilogue Postscript Appendix I Munsee Vocabulary Appendix II The Verrazzano Diary Letter to Francis I of France Munsee Letter to President Zachary Taylor The Nimham Lineage Appendix III Time Line of Lenape History Notes Bibliography Acknowledgments Index Back Cover Introduction -- Natives Of New York City -- Naming Of Things ; How Green Was Manhattan ; Paradise For The Living ; Walk Around Old Manhattan ; Exploring The Ancient City : The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens And Staten Island ; Verrazzano And His Legacy ; We Belong To The Earth ; Two-colored Snake : A History Of The Dutch Occupation Of New York ; World Of The Lenape ; Sweet And Full Of Meaning : The Languages Of Manhattan -- Legendary Hudson Valley -- Native New Yorkers East Of The Hudson River : A Trip Through Westchester, Putnam, And Dutchess Counties ; Head Of The Wolf : Orange And Ulster Counties ; Walk Down The Minisink Trail ; Native New Yorkers Of Stony Country : Rockland County ; Native New Yorkers Of The North--the Mohican : Dutchess, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington, Saratoga, Schenectady, Albany, And Greene Counties -- Long Island Long Ago -- Mysteries Of Long Island ; Thirteen Tribes Of Long Island -- Conclusion -- Lenape Exodus -- Epilogue -- Munsee Vocabulary -- Twelve Levels Of Algonquin History In New York State -- Verrazzano Diary Letter To Francis I Of France -- Munsee Letter To President Zachary Taylor -- Nimham Lineage -- Time Line Of Lenape History. Evan T. Pritchard. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [471]-477) And Index. When Giovanni da Verrazzano sailed into the New York Harbor in 1524, he climbed a hill and beheld "campfires as plentiful as stars, as far as the eye can see." Native New Yorkers reveals the city beneath The City, telling the fascinating story of the ancient Algonquin culture that maintained a thriving civilization in the greater New York area that is now a bustling metropolis. This book draws on a wide range of historical sources as well as extensive interviews with living Algonquin elders; exhaustively traces ancient trails, villages, burial grounds, and sacred sites and is supplemented with maps, a timeline of New York's Algonquin history, a glossary of Algonquin words, and a transcript of Giovanni da Verrazzano's letter to King Francis I of France describing his first glimpses of people of New York in 1524 Chronicles the history of the Algonquin people in the area that is now New York, discussing the impact their culture had on the development of New York