Nora Thompson Dean

Its modern spelling is Weènchipahkihëlèxkwe[1], ‘Touching Leaves Woman’, or, as Nora herself had proposed, ‘Leaves-that-touch-each-other-from-time-to-time woman.’ It is phonetically written as Weεnčipahkihəlεxkwe, /way-en-jee-paH-kee-hull-EKH-kway/.

The initial stem shows a reciprocal reduplication, rare for Unami, (*we:we:- instead of wë-), ‘the leaves (of the trees) on either side (of the path) come together (overhead rustling)’.

Sarah stood listening, and the tree leaves by rustling started to sing a song to her, one that she sang in the Big House.

[Paraphrased by Carl Masthay per NTD’s interview by Katherine Red Corn, April 1968 [3], and compiled with help from Ives Goddard, Raymond Whritenour, and James Rementer.]

Throughout her adult life, she taught about the Lenape religious ceremonies, social functions, dances, craftwork, herbal medicines, and language.

She was consulted by tribal members and numerous academic specialists, including anthropologists, linguists, historians, botanists, and ethnomusicologists.

In 1967, Dean founded a mail-order business, Touching Leaves Indian Crafts, through which she sold the traditional clothing of the Lenape and other items.