{"id":17,"date":"2026-04-09T07:20:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-04-17T09:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:38:13","slug":"nanticoke-tribe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/?page_id=17","title":{"rendered":"The Nanticoke Tribe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n\/* Remove gap between nav and hero *\/\nmain.wp-block-group { margin-top: 0 !important; }\nmain.wp-block-group > .wp-block-group.alignfull:first-child { padding-top: 0 !important; }\n.entry-content { margin-top: 0 !important; }\n.wp-block-post-title { display: none !important; }\n\/* Hide page title on front page *\/\n.wp-block-post-title { display: none !important; }\n\n\/* Constrain full-width images *\/\n.entry-content > .wp-block-image.aligncenter img,\n.entry-content > figure.wp-block-image.aligncenter img {\n    max-height: 400px;\n    width: auto;\n    object-fit: contain;\n    display: block;\n    margin: 0 auto;\n}\n\n\/* Cover block \u2014 tighter *\/\n.wp-block-cover.alignfull { margin-top: 0 !important; }\n\n\/* Better blockquote *\/\n.wp-block-quote {\n    border-left: 4px solid #8B4513 !important;\n    padding: 1em 1.5em;\n    background: #faf8f5;\n}\n\n\/* Earthy buttons *\/\n.wp-block-button__link {\n    background-color: #8B4513 !important;\n    border-radius: 4px !important;\n}\n.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link {\n    background-color: transparent !important;\n    color: #8B4513 !important;\n    border: 2px solid #8B4513 !important;\n}\n\n\/* Gallery refinement *\/\n.wp-block-gallery .wp-block-image img { border-radius: 4px; }\n\n\/* Captions *\/\n.wp-element-caption { font-size: 0.85em; color: #666; font-style: italic; }\n\n\/* Three-column images consistent height *\/\n.wp-block-columns .wp-block-image img { \n    height: 200px; \n    object-fit: cover; \n    width: 100%;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"min-height:280px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-black-background-color has-background-dim-55 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"Nanticoke Indian PowWow Food Court \u2014 Succotash, Indian Tacos, and community gathering\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nanticoke-powwow-foodcourt.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"color:#ffffff\">The Nanticoke Indian Tribe<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"color:#eeeeee;font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.392), 18px);\"><em>Delaware&#8217;s First People \u2014 Over 10,000 Years of History<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Are the Nanticoke?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nanticoke (meaning &#8220;People of the Tidewater&#8221;) are a Native American Algonquian-speaking people whose traditional homelands span the Chesapeake Bay region, including present-day Delaware, Maryland, and parts of New Jersey. They are among the oldest continuous communities in the Mid-Atlantic, with archaeological evidence of their presence dating back thousands of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1608, Captain John Smith encountered the Nanticoke during his exploration of the Chesapeake Bay. At that time, their population was approximately 1,200. The Nanticoke maintained a complex society with an emperor (Unnacokasimon), diplomatic treaties, and extensive trade networks with both Indigenous neighbors and European settlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\" style=\"max-width:650px\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height:350px;object-fit:cover;width:100%;border-radius:6px\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nature-landscape.jpg\" alt=\"The ancestral homeland of the Nanticoke people\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Nanticoke homeland \u2014 the tidewater region of the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A History of Resilience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nanticoke story is one of extraordinary resilience in the face of centuries of displacement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1668<\/strong> \u2014 Signed a peace treaty with Maryland&#8217;s colonial government<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1684<\/strong> \u2014 A reservation was defined between Chicacoan Creek and the Nanticoke River<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1707<\/strong> \u2014 Facing encroachment, the tribe purchased 3,000 acres on Broad Creek<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1744<\/strong> \u2014 Some Nanticoke migrated to Pennsylvania under Iroquois Confederacy protection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1800s<\/strong> \u2014 Those who remained in Delaware purchased land, assimilated, and worked to preserve their community<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1881<\/strong> \u2014 Reorganized as the Nanticoke Indian Association, recognized by the State of Delaware<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1922<\/strong> \u2014 Founded the Nanticoke Indian School (now the Nanticoke Indian Museum)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1978 to present<\/strong> \u2014 Annual Nanticoke PowWow, one of the longest-running PowWows on the East Coast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Nanticoke Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the Nanticoke Indian Tribe is headquartered in <strong>Millsboro, Delaware<\/strong>, where they maintain a tribal center and the <strong>Nanticoke Indian Museum<\/strong> \u2014 a converted schoolhouse that preserves artifacts dating back to 8,000 B.C.E. The museum features traditional tools, artwork, clothing, and crafts created by tribal citizens.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\" style=\"max-width:600px\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height:380px;object-fit:cover;width:100%;border-radius:6px\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nanticoke-museum-visit.jpg\" alt=\"Students exploring exhibits at the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro, Delaware\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Students exploring the exhibits at the Nanticoke Indian Museum, learning about traditional tools, artwork, and cultural heritage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\" style=\"max-width:600px\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height:350px;object-fit:cover;width:100%;border-radius:6px\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/native-craft-vendor.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional Native American ponchos, blankets and handmade art at the Nanticoke PowWow\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Traditional ponchos, blankets, and handmade art \u2014 PowWow vendors support Indigenous artisans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The tribe&#8217;s annual <strong>PowWow<\/strong>, held each September, draws visitors from across the region and serves as a vital celebration of Nanticoke culture, featuring traditional dancing, drumming, storytelling, and craft demonstrations. It is both a cultural homecoming and a public education event.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-medium\" style=\"max-width:600px\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height:380px;object-fit:cover;width:100%;border-radius:6px\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vivian-checkin-tribal.jpg\" alt=\"Vivian checking in at a Nanticoke tribal community event\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A museum guide shares the history and traditions of the Nanticoke people with visiting students.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Federal Recognition Question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite being recognized by the <strong>State of Delaware since 1881<\/strong>, the Nanticoke Indian Tribe does not have <strong>federal recognition<\/strong> from the U.S. government. Federal recognition would provide access to federal funding for healthcare, education, housing, and cultural preservation \u2014 resources that are critically needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The path to federal recognition is long, expensive, and bureaucratically complex. It requires extensive documentation of continuous community, political authority, and descent \u2014 a process that can take decades. This is one of the issues we aim to raise awareness about through our advocacy work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Nanticoke Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nanticoke language belongs to the Algonquian language family and is closely related to the Southern Unami language of the Lenape. Although Nanticoke is no longer actively spoken, many words were recorded in the 1700s by commission of Thomas Jefferson. Today, tribal members are working to reconstruct and preserve the language for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height:350px;object-fit:contain\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nanticoke-language-poster.jpg\" alt=\"Nanticoke language vocabulary \u2014 words like sky (moosecaquit), food (mettsah), truth (ko-o-lam)\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nanticoke vocabulary: sky \u2014 moosecaquit, food \u2014 mettsah, truth \u2014 ko-o-lam, tree \u2014 petuicque<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-height:350px;object-fit:contain\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cindy-history-panel.jpg\" alt=\"Cindy Wan studying the Nanticoke Indian Tribe 1600s history exhibit\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cindy studying the Nanticoke history exhibit at the PowWow education tent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nanticoke Indian Tribe Official Website:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/nanticokeindians.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nanticokeindians.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nanticoke Indian Museum:<\/strong> 26673 John J. Williams Hwy, Millsboro, DE 19966 \u2014 Open Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm (April-December)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Park Service \u2014 Delaware&#8217;s Indigenous Heritage:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/thingstodo\/nanticoke-museum.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NPS Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who Are the Nanticoke? The Nanticoke (meaning &#8220;People of the Tidewater&#8221;) are a Native American Algonquian-speaking people whose traditional homelands span the Chesapeake Bay region, including present-day Delaware, Maryland, and parts of New Jersey. They are among the oldest continuous communities in the Mid-Atlantic, with archaeological evidence of their presence dating back thousands of years. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions\/156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}