Friends of the Wissahickon Hosts Fall Valley Talk – Lenape, A Living Language 

The name Wissahickon derives from a Lenape phrase wisameckam, or “catfish creek.” Learn more about this rich and nearly lost language as part of Lenape, A Living Language, the Fall Valley Talk hosted by Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) on Sept. 14. Join Shelley DePaul, Chief of Education and Language for the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, for a discussion on the continuing history and culture of the Lenape as well as her work to reclaim and revitalize the Lenape language today. One of FOW’s stewardship partners, the Lenape Nation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of Lenape history while continuing the preservation and revival of the language and cultural traditions.

DePaul has worked for the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania since 2004 as Genealogy Researcher, Historical Researcher, Lenape Language Specialist, and Educator, and now is Chief of Education and Language on the Council of the LNPA. The University of Pennsylvania credited her as being one of only four people in the world who speaks Conversational Lenape. She has taught Lenape language classes at Swarthmore College for which she literally wrote the book – the only classroom textbook of its kind, and currently teaches classes online. This free event begins at 6 p.m. and will be held virtually on Zoom – register here.