Dean, Nora Thompson, 1907-1984

Nora Thompson Dean (July 3, 1907 – November 29, 1984) was a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. As a Lenape traditionalist and one of the last fluent speakers of the southern Unami dialect of the Lenape language, she was an influential mentor to younger tribal members and is widely cited in scholarship on Lenape culture.

Born in Oklahoma, she received her education in Oklahoma's public schools. She graduated from Midway School in 1921, as salutatorian, and from Dewey High School in Dewey, Oklahoma, in 1925. Thompson also had some nursing training and several university credits. In 1941, she married Charley Dean, who was also born and raised in northeastern Oklahoma.

Dean was raised in the traditional ways of her people, and she dedicated herself to keeping these alive. Throughout her adult life, she taught about the Lenape religious ceremonies, social functions, dances, craftwork, herbal medicines, and language. She was consulted by tribal members and numerous academic specialists, including anthropologists, linguists, historians, botanists, and ethnomusicologists.

In 1967, Dean founded a mail-order business, Touching Leaves Indian Crafts, through which she sold the traditional clothing of the Lenape and other items. Dean received awards for her craftwork, and in recognition of her work to promote the traditional ways of her Lenape people.

In the later part of her life, Dean divided her time between artwork, working with students who came to her home to study, lecturing at universities, working at museums demonstrating Lenape artwork, working at different universities as a resource person, and preparing educational material for sale through her business.