The US government forcibly assimilated Native American children through over 500 boarding schools during the 19th century, with the explicit goal to "kill the Indian, save the man." The Lenape people, the original inhabitants of what is now New York, were among those targeted for cultural erasure through these brutal institutions, which resulted in at least 1,000 deaths and widespread physical and sexual abuse. A new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, titled "Halumii Ktapihna: Lenape Legacies and Futures," demonstrates that despite centuries of systematic attempts to erase their culture, the Lenape people's modern-day heritage remains vibrant and alive, challenging the false historical narratives that suggest Indigenous peoples' stories ended hundreds of years ago.

The exhibit features a 1874 Christian hymnal translated into Munsee, one of the Lenape languages, which was originally used as a tool of assimilation but now serves as a vital resource for language revitalisation. Displayed alongside contemporary works, including a 2024 bolo tie declaring "We matter," the exhibit showcases over 150 pieces of visual art, traditional dress, music samples, and efforts to preserve Lenape language and culture. The Lenape people, whose name "Manhattan" comes from their language meaning "a place for gathering wood to make bows," continue to assert their presence and rights to unceded territory that forms modern-day New York, challenging the persistent false narrative of their land being sold to Dutch settlers for $24 worth of trinkets.