Monsiyok | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Stockbridge Munsee Community members inWisconsin in 2009 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Formerly:New York,New Jersey, andPennsylvania.[1] Presently:Oklahoma,Ontario, andWisconsin.[2] | |
| Languages | |
| English currently and theMunsee language historically | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherLenape peoples |
| Person | Monsi, Lënape |
|---|---|
| People | Monsiyok, Lënapeyok |
| Language | Monsii èlixsuwakàn, Lënapei èlixsuwakàn |
| Country | Lënapehòkink |
TheMunsee (Delaware:Monsiyok)[3] are a subtribe and one of the three divisions of theLenape. Historically, they lived along the upper portion of theDelaware River, theMinisink, and the adjacent country inNew York,New Jersey, andPennsylvania. They were prominent in the early history of New York and New Jersey, being among the first Indigenous peoples of that region to encounterEuropean colonizers.
The name is also spelled Minsi, Muncee, or mə́n'si·w.Munsee derives fromMinsi, which in turn comes fromMin-asin-ink (also Minisink), a placename that translates as "at the place where stones are gathered together."[2]
The Munsee originally occupied the headwaters of theDelaware River in present-dayNew York,[2]New Jersey, andPennsylvania,[1] extending south to theLehigh River, and also held the west bank of theHudson River from theCatskill Mountains nearly to the New Jersey line. They were bordered by theMohican andWappinger on the north and east, and fellow Lenape (Delaware) on the south and southeast. They were regarded as a buffer between the southern Lenape and theIroquois Confederacy based in present-day New York south of the Great Lakes. Their council village wasMinisink, probably inSussex County, New Jersey. The bands along the Hudson were prominent in the early history of New York, but as European-American settlements increased, most of the Munsee moved south to join their relatives along the Delaware.[4]
In 1669, the Munsee aided theEsopus people in attacking theDutch colonists, and were defeated byMartin Cregier in theEsopus Wars. By a fraudulent treaty known as theWalking Purchase, the main body of the Munsee was forced to move from the Delaware River about the year 1740. They settled on theSusquehanna River, on lands assigned them by theHaudenosaunee (Iroquois, 'ökwé'ö:weh - "The only true men"). Soon afterward they moved west, joining the main Lenape settlements on theOhio River. Most became incorporated with that group. In 1756, those remaining in New York were placed upon lands inSchoharie County and were incorporated with theMohawk.[4]
A considerable body, theChristian Munsee, who were converted by theMoravian missionaries,[1] drew off from the rest and formed a separate organization, most of them moving toCanada during theAmerican Revolution.
Some Christian Munsee joined theOjibwe andStockbridge people inWisconsin. The majority joined the rest of the Lenape, with whom they participated in their subsequent wars and removals.[citation needed]
In 1837, Christian Munsees, also called Delaware-Munsies, settled among fellow Lenape inKansas. In 1859, the Christian Munsees moved toFranklin County, Kansas, and joined a band ofOjibwe people who had migrated south from Michigan.[1] By 1891, the combined community numbered 85, and the US government formed anIndian reservation for them.[1] The reservation was broken into individual land allotments in 1900.[5]
The Lenape who kept the name of Munsee were in three bands in the early 20th century in Canada and the United States. Two had consolidated with remnants of other nations so that no separate census is available. These nations were:
