We now continue with settlement using the Leni Lenape as our guide in the process:
A. Everyday Skills and Crafts: Men, Women, Children
a. We will be constructing a traditional longhouse with the students
b. Tools and materials needed for lodge construction
i. Saplings, canvas or bark, paint, rope and twine, shovels, knife, scissors
ii. Benches and racks will be constructed inside the lodge where corn and plants will be placed and personal items stored
iii. A fire circle and pit will be created
c. Clothing
i. A hide rack will be constructed next to the longhouse for the brain tanning process
ii. It may be possible for one of the clans to sew a native style shirt or skirt, a dress or a man’s shirt and leggings out of leather: this will also be an excellent juncture to discuss the use of natural dyes from local plants and to use them to dye leather or cloth
d. Hunting and Trapping (as permitted by local game management we may or may not be able to hunt; if this is the case we will simulate the art of the hunt without the final slaughter, unless hunting licenses, in season, can be obtained)
i. Discuss the hunting ethic of the ancients (how is hunting linked with agricultural settlement?)
ii. Construct some simple traps from sticks, stones and cordage
iii. Construct a simple bow in the Eastern Woodlands Indian style
iv. Participate in a hunting expedition complete with observation, stalking and tracking
v. Create other hunting implements: atlatl, spear, etc.
vi. What animals were hunted by the Natives and toward what end?
vii. Dry meat for future use
e. Fishing (licenses must be obtained)
i. Create fish weirs and fish traps
ii. Discuss what fish and other water animals were caught here and by what methods
iii. Carve some simple fish hooks from bone or wood or create them from found materials (safety pins, pieces of tin cans, etc.)
iv. Dry fish for future use
v. Shellfish and crustaceans: what was utilized by the Lenape
f. Wild plants: food, medicine, utility
i. Participate in a foraging day, gathering plants for all our needs
1. Discuss the many types of food, medicinal and utility plants by local Native populations
2. Learn to use field guides for identification (poisonous plants discussed)
ii. Weave a mat form collected phragmites reeds
iii. Discuss why particular plants would be placed in medicine pouches
iv. Dry fruits in the sun
v. Dig a storage pit for foods at our longhouse site
g. Gardening: plants and process (agriculture begins)
i. Create a Native garden with corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, amaranth and herbs (if you are already gardening add these native garden plants to your site)
ii. Seeds and tools will be needed: some seeds can be harvested in the wild and some tools will be created by students: digging sticks, primitive shovels and hoes, etc.
h. Tools and weapons: bone, stone, wood, metal (please see Epoch I)
i. Hide scrapers
ii. Harpoons
iii. Adzes
iv. Sharpening tools
v. Drills, etc.
i. Pottery making: For cooking (clay, paddles wrapped with cord, kiln): Make a clay pot from local native clays and use it for cooking, water storage, etc.
j. Travel and transportation
i. Discuss the forms of travel and the routes taken by the Lenape in the area
ii. Go on a hunting expedition, traveling by foot (possibly by horse)
k. Games and entertainment (research local native games and play them with your friends and family)
l. Medicine (some of this will be covered in our foraging process; medicine practice other than plant medicine will be discussed)
m. Fire-making (see hunter-gatherer skills sections)
n. Musical instruments
i. Gourd rattles, flutes, drums
ii. Materials and tools: gourds, bamboo, drum skins form found materials, rawhide, drills, glue, files, etc.
o. Toys
i. Corn husk dolls
ii. Ring games
p. Basketry: make a spiral, plaited, twill, etc basket form natural fibers
q. Cooking: We will be discussing the art of Leni Lenape cuisine by cooking a traditional meal utilizing local plants, spices and animals; we will use a mano and metate to grind grain; utensils and plates and cups will be created by students
r. Leni Lenape language: write a short story or poem in the Lenape language (what is the local native language of you area?)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGa_k8-ZYD0&hl=en_US&fs=1&]