MikeS

Dear all - Kxiti nkski alnixsi! I speak some Lnape. As someone pointed out - there are indeed modern speakers of Lenape, however, most do not live in ancestral lands (not to go all political here but little things like being forced off your land onto a Reservation and beaten by teachers for speaking one word of your native language are just a few of the reasons you don't hear it much anymore) Unami (mainly Southern) and Munsi are still spoken - not only in OK, but also in Reserves in Ontario. The OA has borrowed just about all of its Lenape words from the Northern Unami diale

WOW!! I'm a little speechless after reading the article by this Salza character! The dude has definately been brainwashed somewhere along the way! While there is no denying some of the OA rituals are borrowings from the Masonic traditions, this guy obviously has absolutely no clue! I guess it just goes to show what people can read into things they do not take the time to try and understand or gain knowledge of. Our rituals had to be taken from somewhere - guess that was the most logical place to look towards. If his srticle wasn't meant to be taken so seriously, it would a

Yes, Geekster189 is correct - the Jumpstart page does not pronounce it correctly; unfortunately, no one, it seems, has ever bothered to learn the correct Northern Unami pronunciation of the word (the dialect of Lenape / Delaware the OA has borrowed it from ). I would love to see it officially taught correctly; if you're going to borrow from another language, regardless of what that language is, at least learn to pronounce it correctly; I'm not saying you have to have native-speaker pronunciation, but it's sad to see some of the pronunciations given and passed on to new OA members. I wonde

LOL - Tokala, yeah you're right! Let me yet again rephrase (brain cramp!) - obviously if the language is still a living language check with the local Native groups, etc. If a dead language is being used, such as Timucua, you kind of have a few issues - if there exists a dictionary and grammar for the language (fortunately Timucua has both available)I would strongly recommend using both to arrive at grammatically correct forms for names. If neither exist - I'm kind of curious to know, for those who are using them, what is being used as a resource to base names on (or do you just not

Sorry - I should rephrase that - What I meant was that the Lenapi names usually given and ones I have seen are "supposed to be Lenape", but unfortunately because of the disregard for grammar, correct forms of the words, etc., they end up being more or less jibberish. I'm all for using names with a more local flavour, but I think that I would want to check with the local Native groups, etc. for permission and guidance.

The names are supposed to be Lnape, but as I understand it many Lodges also use languages more local to them. What you have to keep in mind though is that most "names" are contrived with very little regard for proper Lnape grammar and the meanings of words are very frequenlty 'extended'(using "horse" to mean some sort of vehicle for example). As a result, most of these "names" are totally ungrammatical and words used so out of proper context as to make them total jibberish. A very frequent error I see happening is the use of adjectives with inanimate grammatical markers being used

I've been reading with interest the various views regarding the use of American Native culture in the BSA and OA. It's quite a heated topic and opinions are strong on both sides. I don't wish to add to the arguement but I must say that if NA terms, and imagery are to be used, at least have the common courtesy to learn what is right and what is wrong, what is appropriate and what is considered very offensive. I was quite shocked, for example, to learn that most Lnape terms used in the OA are not even close to what the correct Lnape words actually are to say nothing of how they