Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Tenkenas (Ward's Island)

Tenkenas was the Native name recorded for Ward's Island in the East River, formerly also called Great Barcut or Great Barn Island. The name appears in a 1637 conveyance involving two East River islands in Hell Gate. The map placement is a general Ward's Island placement and not a boundary for the deeded islands. Tenkenas is interpreted as forest, woods, bushy, or wild lands, compared with a Delaware word for wooded land. Why Place Names Matter “Ethnographic island place names aid in native language revitalization, illustrate cultural values, and provide tangible connections to cultural landscapes and seascapes.” — National Park Service, Anacapa Island — 'anyapax (2023), Ethnographic Island Place Names section