their lifetimes. The Curtis Act of 1898 dissolved tribal governments and ordered the allotment of tribal lands to individual members of tribes. The Lenape fought the act in the courts but lost. The lands were allotted in lots in 1907, with any land left over sold to non-Indians. The Nation became federally recognized on July 5, 1958, as the "Delaware Tribe of Western Oklahoma." They ratified their current constitution in 1972. In November 1999, the tribe officially changed its name to the Delaware Nation. In September 2000 the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma received 11.5 acres of land in Thornbury Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania In 2004 the Delaware of Oklahoma sued Pennsylvania over land lost in 1800. This was related to the colonial government's Walking Purchase of 1737, an agreement of doubtful legal veracity. The court held that the justness of the extinguishment of aboriginal title is nonjusticiable, including in the case of fraud. Because the extinguishment occurred prior to the passage of the first Indian Nonintercourse Act in 1790, that Act did not avail the Delaware. As a result, the court granted the Commonwealth's motion to dismiss. In its conclusion the court stated: "... we find that the Delaware Nation's aboriginal rights to Tatamy's Place were extinguished in 1737 and that, later, fee title to the land was granted to Chief Tatamy—not to the tribe as a collectivity." Notable Western Delaware Black Beaver (1806–1880), Delaware leader, scout, and rancher Holly Wilson (born 1968), Delaware multi-media artist Notes External links Delaware Nation – Official web site Western Delaware, Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Delaware Nation – Official Facebook page Native American tribes in Oklahoma Federally recognized tribes in the United States