In 1830 the Indian Removal Act was set in place. For the Delaware Tribe who were living near Bonner Springs Kansas at the time, it was bad news. They were told that they had to leave and go to Oklahoma or they could stay in Kansas if they denounced their heritage and all involvement in their tribe as Native American and became a United States citizen. Out of the 30,000 members that made up the tribe, only twenty-six adults and their forty children stayed in Kansas. Now in 2024 what is now the Kansas Delaware Tribe has been working hard for years to be recognized as a proper tribe by the state of Kansas but has found no luck so far.
When she was in her teens, Linda Graff was told about her heritage by her mother when they were driving past the Grinter House. Graff’s mother told her that it was built by Moses Grinter who married her four-time removed grandmother, Annie Marshall. Annie Grinter was a part of the original Delaware Tribe that stayed in Kansas. To know if you are a part of the tribe you must have your lineage confirmed, after Graff was confirmed she found her ancestors who stayed in Kansas. “Annie Grinter was one of those original Delaware who stayed and she is my great great great grandmother,” said Graff.
Graff didn’t have much involvement within the Kansas Delaware Tribe, spending her time being a teacher, until her retirement. Graff told us how she started by attending meetings until it was time for them to elect a new Chief. In the Kansas Delaware Tribe becoming Chief is just like becoming president. If you want to and have the qualifications the people may elect you into the role. So Graff announced her desire to become the next Chief and started her campaign. She wanted to work harder than ever toward having the Kansas Delaware Tribe be recognized as a true tribe. Since 2016, Graff has been known as Chief Graff having been elected by those who are a part of the tribe through blood, and will be known as such until the next election in 2025.
Part of the reason why Graff wanted to become Chief is because of what direction the tribal council before her was going with the tribe. “It operated kind of like a social club. […] and it wasn’t educational and it wasn’t forward thinking and we had so many things we could do.” Graff explained. The more she sat in on those meetings the more anxious she got about wanting to make a change. Graff shared with us how many were taken aback by her announcement but soon took a liking to her view.
Chief Graff wasn’t the first woman to take office as the Kansas Delaware Chief but she has made a big impact. Graff sees herself as a progressive, “We’ve changed lots of things since I became chief and I think it’s for the good.” states Graff. Since taking office she has taken steps to have the Kansas Delaware Tribe be federally recognized such as solidifying membership through blood lineage.
One of the big things Graff wanted to keep and get back was the original traditions of the Kansas Delaware Tribe. Graff shared with us that as a tribe they are all taking lessons on how to speak the native Lenape language as there are no longer any native speakers. She shared with us how to pronounce a few words like thank you, “Their language is called Lenape. ‘Wanìshi’ means thank you, like: ‘Wanìshi for inviting me here today’.” Graff also brought in an array of items that she presented. Among the items were moccasins that she made and embroidered with a beaded Kansas Delaware Tribe turtle. Graff also wore her traditional Kansas Delaware regalia and informed us that you never refer to a native outfit as a “costume” but rather as regalia.
As we are the Bonner Springs Braves we knew that we must ask the nail-biting question: how does she view our mascot, the Brave? Graff warned us that the Oklahoma Delaware Tribe is federally recognized therefore their opinions have more weight than the Kansas Delaware Tribe but they seem to agree. As far as using native words and ideas, so long as it isn’t in vain or portrayed in a cartoonish way it is fine, “It’s more as an honor, you know, to have Braves.”
If you think that you might have a connection with the Kansas Delaware Tribe Chief Linda Graff urges you to reach out and have them check the records. Or if you want to support the Kansas Delaware Tribe with their journey to become a state and federally recognized tribe please check out their Facebook page Kansas Delaware, to find a link to their website where you can buy merchandise and proceeds will go to funding the mission.
On behalf of the Pow Wow staff, I would like to say wanìshi Chief Linda Graff for taking time out of her busy schedule to meet with me for an interview and giving the Pow Wow staff an important history lesson on the Kansas Delaware Tribe. Keep a look out for part two where I will go more in-depth with the rich history of the Kansas Delaware Tribe and their roots here in Bonner Springs.
