The Delaware Tribe of Indians (often called the Eastern Delaware) are Lenape people whose original homelands were along the Delaware River area in the Northeast. Over time, many Lenape communities were pushed west through treaties and removals, and Delaware families eventually settled in what is now northeast Oklahoma, including areas around Bartlesville. In the 1800s, some Delaware people purchased land from the Cherokee and lived in Indian Territory, and later their political status shifted back and forth through court and federal decisions. Today, the Delaware Tribe of Indians is federally recognized and headquartered in Bartlesville, serving citizens across parts of northeast Oklahoma.
Interesting facts
The tribe went through multiple federal recognition changes in the late 1900s and 2000s before recognition was restored again in 2009.
The tribe supports Lenape language work, including projects connected to a “talking dictionary” and language resources.
What is the tribe’s most recent population census?
Public sources do not always list a single “most recent census” number for the Delaware Tribe of Indians the way the U.S. Census lists city or county populations. One widely cited Oklahoma historical reference says approximately 10,000 tribal members live in Washington, Nowata, Craig, and Delaware counties.
What is the language spoken by the tribe?
The Delaware Tribe of Indians is a Lenape (Delaware) people, and the heritage language is commonly called Lenape or Delaware. Linguists often describe two closely related Delaware languages (or main varieties): Unami and Munsee, both part of the Eastern Algonquian branch of the Algic language family. Unami is specifically documented as a Lenape/Delaware language that was spoken in the Mid-Atlantic and later spoken in Oklahoma as Lenape people moved west.
Is there a language revitalization program in the tribe?
The tribe’s own materials describe language revitalization efforts and connect them to broader preservation work—especially digital tools. One key effort tied to Lenape language preservation is the Lenape Talking Dictionary, which grew out of a National Science Foundation–funded project to build a Lenape dictionary database and preserve recordings of fluent speakers. The Delaware Tribe also points citizens to language resources and updates connected to Lenape language learning.
Does the tribe have any Christian history?
A major part of Lenape Christian history is connected to Moravian (United Brethren) missionary work, especially in the 1700s and 1800s. Moravian missionaries followed Delaware/Lenape communities as they moved west and produced Christian teaching materials in the Delaware language. This history includes Delaware communities known for Christian commitment in Moravian contexts (often discussed as “Christian Munsee”) and a long paper trail of mission records that document ministry among the Delaware over many decades.
Is there a Bible in the language of the tribe? Give its history of development.
A complete “one-volume” Lenape (Delaware) Bible is not commonly described in major reference summaries, but significant Scripture translations and Bible-based publications have existed in the Delaware language for a long time, especially through Moravian mission work. For example, published works include Delaware-language Scripture narratives and portions such as the Epistles of John (printed in 1818), as well as a Gospel Harmony associated with David Zeisberger (published in 1821)—all part of a broader stream of Delaware-language Christian texts used for teaching and worship.
Are there any Bible translation efforts in the tribe? Give specific details.
Historically, Moravian missionaries and translators produced multiple Delaware-language Christian texts (Scripture narratives, epistles, and gospel harmonies) in the 1800s, and archives still catalogue Delaware (Lenape) translation materials connected to figures like David Zeisberger. In the present day, language revitalization work (like the Lenape Talking Dictionary and recorded speaker archives) supports the broader ability to translate, teach, and preserve Lenape—often a necessary foundation for any modern translation or re-translation work.
Are there any gospel hymns in the tribe’s language?
A well-known example is “A collection of hymns” in the Delaware language associated with Moravian missions, credited to David Zeisberger, and printed in the 1800s for use among Delaware Christian communities. Library and archival descriptions note that these hymns were translated from German and English Moravian hymn sources into the Delaware language and were used in worship (often without printed music).
