Neolin

And so this is a lot of conflict created within our own leadership and community so that there really never was a unified nation of Lenape people during these times.

During my research for this episode, it also seemed like parts of the Delaware tribe, the Lenape people, probably fed up with everything that had gone on in the past, decided to continue their resistance by joining Pontiac or Neolin's Rebellion in what we now call the Midwest, specifically in Michigan and the Great Lakes Territory.

So could you tell us about the Delaware's experiences in Pontiac's Rebellion?

Yeah, it's my understanding that after the Treaty of Easton in 1758, in which we moved westward, The British didn't uphold their end of the bargain of limiting westward expansion.

And this kind of steps back, not just to the Seneca prophet, Handsome Lake, but brings in other earlier and later prophets.

Neolin in the 1750s and Wangeman, or 1760s for Neolin, 1750s for Wangeman.

These are prophets that are very active in the Susquehanna Valley.

you know, a couple of generations before Joseph Smith is there hunting for treasure, and would have a significant impact on kind of popular understanding of indigenous prophets, of Indian prophets.

Rick, could you just tell me a little bit more about who Pontiac is?

Pontiac is an Odawa leader, and he's fallen into close affinity with a preacher who's Delaware, or Lenape, named Neolin.

Neolin is the Delaware prophet.

Pontiac is the political leader, and together they start articulating a vision for the future that is transformative.

They decide that they no longer want their followers to rely upon the goods of Europeans.