11-20-12: Celebrating American Indian History Month in Maryland

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American Indian History Month is already in full swing, and Friday, Nov. 23 is American Indian History Day in Maryland. American Indian History Day was first celebrated in Maryland in 2008, and is one of Maryland's official state holidays.

Although the day after Thanksgiving is often overshadowed by midnight sales and the shopping frenzy--Keith Colston, Administrative Director for the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs--said his office would like to see a shift from the commercial focus of the day to a more culturally based focus.

"We are trying to change that," Colston said. "We'd love for people to have some type of desire to know more about the indigenous people here in Maryland."

There are eight indigenous tribes in Maryland and several more tribes, communities and groups have lived in Maryland for centuries.

One American Indian group that has roots that trace back nearly 400 years is the Accohannock Indian Tribe in Somerset County. Chief Rudy Laughing Otter Hall said the tribe has been on Maryland's Eastern Shore since 1620.

Accohannock tribal members submitted a petition for state recognition in 2011. The process is ongoing. If the Accohannock Indian Tribe receives state recognition, or "Maryland Indian Status," the tribe would be the third in the state to do so.

After an application process that lasted more than 10 years, the Piscataway Indian Nation and the Piscataway Conoy Tribe received state recogniton in January of 2012.

The two Piscataway tribes will be honored at the Native American Heritage Month Awards on the campus of Salisbury University on Nov. 26 for their state recognition.

In this interview, Sheilah speaks with Keith Colston about what state recognition could mean for the identity and the future of Maryland's American Indian tribes.

Front page image credit: Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office

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Chief Rudy Laughing Otter Hall describes the duality of some American Indians' identities.