Walam Olum
The Walam Olum is a significant narrative associated with the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) nation, presenting their creation story and pre-contact history. Documented in verses that are accompanied by mnemonic drawings, it recounts the creation of the world by Manitou, the great creator, and introduces a harmonious existence between humans and animals. The story takes a dramatic turn when an evil snake threatens this paradise, only to be thwarted by the trickster Nanabush, who helps shape the world on the back of a giant turtle. Following the creation myth, the verses detail the migration of the Lenni Lenape from harsh, snowy lands to a more hospitable environment, alongside the emergence of their technology and the lineage of their chiefs leading up to their first contact with Europeans.
The text was recorded in the early 19th century by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque and later published by Daniel Brinton. However, it has faced significant scrutiny, with contemporary studies suggesting that Rafinesque may have fabricated parts of the document, leading to its rejection by Indigenous scholars and the Lenape themselves. While it was once used to explore theories about Indigenous American origins and migrations, subsequent archaeological and linguistic research has challenged these ideas, highlighting the complexities of interpreting Indigenous narratives and the importance of respecting Indigenous voices in historical discourse.
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Walam Olum
- TRIBE AFFECTED: Lenni Lenape
- SIGNIFICANCE: The creation story and pre-contact history of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) nation is told in this set of verses
The Walam Olum is a long set of verses keyed to mnemonic drawings and preserved as the creation myth and traditional history of the Delaware (Lenni Lenape) people, who formerly lived on the East Coast in the present state of Delaware. The poem begins with the creation of the world by the great creator, Manitou; it is a peaceful paradise in which men and animals live harmoniously. An evil snake threatens this paradise, but the world is saved through the efforts of Nanabush, the trickster or creator, who shapes the present world on the back of a great turtle. Following these events is an account of migration from a land of wind and snow to a land with milder climate where technology emerges. The remaining verses recite clan origins and the list of chiefs up to the first encounter with Europeans.
The text of the Walam Olum derives from a manuscript written down in the early part of the nineteenth century by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque as a historical narrative of the Lenape/Delaware people. However, Rafinesque was apparently not fluent in Delaware. It was first printed by Daniel Brinton in The Lenape and Their Legends (1885). Delaware is from the Algonquian language family, and themes and characters such as the earth-supporting turtle and the character of Nanabush are familiar from other Algonquian traditions. However, in the twenty-first century, studies and analyses of the text have concluded that Rafinesque likely fabricated the document, and it has been rejected by Indigenous scholars and the Lenape/Delaware. Previously, the Walam Olum was used to discover theories regarding Indigenous American origins and migrations. With the revelation of the translation of the Walam Olum as a hoax, archeological and linguistic evidence has debunked many of these erroneous theories.
Bibliography
Hare, J.B.“The Walam Olum Index.” Sacred Texts, July 2003, sacred-texts.com/nam/walam/index.htm. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
“Walam Olum Hokum.” Archaeology Magazine, 2009, archive.archaeology.org/online/features/hoaxes/walam‗olum.html. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
“The Wallum Olum (The Red Record).” Lenape Delaware History, 11 Nov. 2006, lenapedelawarehistory.net/mirror/wallamolum.htm. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
“The Walam Olum of Constantine Rafinesque.” Museum of Hoaxes, hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/the‗walam‗olum‗of‗constantine‗rafinesque. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.