November is National Native American Heritage Month, and we at the American Littoral Society are honoring the original stewards of our coasts by highlighting the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape people and the ways they continue to keep their culture alive today. ​

The Lenni-Lenape—whose name is generally translated as “Original People”—have a history in this region dating back more than 10,000 years. Long before European colonization, they lived in small, semi-permanent villages along rivers and coasts, including the Delaware Bay and its tributaries, where they fished, hunted, and farmed. Their communities in what is now New Jersey included three main groups, the southernmost of which were the Unami (“People Down River”) and the Unalachtigo (“People Who Live Near the Ocean”). 

In the 1600s, the Nanticoke—known as the “Tidewater People”—began migrating from Maryland and Delaware to the Delaware River region, eventually uniting with Lenape who remained in the area. By the 18th century, many Lenape had been pushed westward into Pennsylvania, Ohio, and beyond. 

Given the meaning of their names, it is clear that the Delaware River watershed—including its tributaries and the bay—has always been central to their cultural identity. The descendants who remained or returned to New Jersey are citizens of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, and many of them work to preserve their culture and continue advocating for tribal recognition. The Littoral Society is proud to partner with the Nation to help protect South Jersey’s waterways and the communities that depend on them. 

To highlight this month, we spoke with one of our partners, Charlene Johnson, Cultural Retention Chairperson and a proud citizen of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. For the past decade, the Society has worked with Charlene and other tribal members through environmental education programs, and we are honored to share her perspective. 

Thursday, January 1 
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
From Fort Tilden in New York and
Littoral Society HQ on Sandy Hook, NJ
Free

Ring in the New Year with the American Littoral Society by joining us for brisk walks in New York and New Jersey.

For the New York walk, meet at the little church just inside the 169th street entrance to Fort Tilden (note the Main gate may be closed). We'll hike along the beach and visit the hawk watch platform on top of Battery Harris east (about a mile on roads and trails).

For the Sandy Hook Walk, meet at Littoral Society headquarters (Building 18 in the Fort Hancock Section of Gateway National Recreation Area). We will walk to the northern tip of Sandy Hook (a little over 2 miles on roads, trails and sand). Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be served after the walk.

Once at their respective destinations, both groups will attempt to signal each other across the New York bight.

Want to help protect our state?

1. Join the Virtual Public Hearing
   • When: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
   • What: Share your thoughts with NJDEP staff during the meeting
   • How: Be sure to register before the meeting.
2. Send Written Comments
   • Deadline: September 19, 2025
   • How: Use DEP's online comment form.

Need help figuring out what to say? Here's some guidance:  
​I support the proposed NJPACT REAL Rules, which will make our state more resilient and better prepared to face the threats facing our communities and coast, like flooding and sea level rise. I am writing to ask the NJDEP to adopt these rules immediately.

I support these rules because they use the best available science to guide construction that will withstand expected sea level rise and increased rainfall that we are already experiencing in the state, while also helping to prepare us to withstand and recover from future storms.

I support these rules because they encourage nature-based solutions to restore wetlands, shorelines, and floodplains, which help to reduce the impacts of flooding. These rules will capture and remove water pollution, which too often restricts our use and enjoyment of our ocean and bays.  

I support these rules because they close existing loopholes that put people and places at risk.

The climate is changing, and so must we!