Linguist Francesco Melfi from Cleveland State University, delivers a talk about the Delaware Indians, their relation with the Iroquois Confederacy, and his discoveries in the archives of Moravian documents housed at Michigan State University

Linguist Francesco Melfi from Cleveland State University, delivers a talk about the Delaware Indians, their relation with the Iroquois Confederacy, and his discoveries in the archives of Moravian documents housed at Michigan State University. Melfi concludes that assumptions about the Delaware being inferior to and dominated by the Iroquois are incorrect and that they maintained their autonomy and their traditions, along with a mythology more closely aligned with the Algonquin. He describes his accomplishments interpreting the Delaware language, translating Indian and missionary texts, comparing dialects, and suggests that a careful study of these documents will help "resurrect" Delaware culture. Melfi answers questions from the audience. The session is convened by Patrick McConeghy, Associate Dean of the MSU College of Arts and Letters. Part of the Michigan Sate University Libraries' Colloquia Series and cosponsored by the Center for Great Lakes Culture. Held in the MSU Main Library.