New Contact with The NMAI

To establish a working rapport with the Natl Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), I've written to the current Director, Cynthia Chavez Lamar, offering my help in creating online programming about the Anacostan and Native History of DC.

In a comment on the letter, Chief Swann of the Piscataway-Conoy Tribe emphasized that the programming should include the living Piscataways, not just their history. I fully agree, and if I'm called on to work on a website addition, the modern Piscataways will certainly be included!

Here's a copy of the letter:

Dr. Cynthia Chavez Lamar

Director, National Museum of the American Indian

January 18, 2024

Dear Dr. Lamar,

Best wishes for 2024! I'm writing to introduce myself and offer any help I might provide so the NMAI would include information on the Native history of Washington, DC, especially the Anacostan/Piscataway people who once walked the land where the NMAI now stands.

In the fall of 2023 I published "Native American History of Washington, DC," (Arcadia Press). In the book I include an account of my efforts since 2016 to encourage the NMAI to address local Native history.* It was in 2016 that I became aware of the Native village that had been identified in the late 1800s on a site less than a 1/2 mile from the NMAI (Garfield Park/Carroll Estate). Since that time I've collected the history of nearly 20 other sites in Washington, DC. They are discussed in detail in my book, and more generally in an interactive map on this website: http://onceasitwasdc.org/.

I would be happy to meet with you, or members of your staff, to discuss how this topic might be added to the public materials of the NMAI. I suspect the most feasible and cost effective format would be as an online exhibit.

Sincerely yours,

Armand

Armand Lione, Ph.D.

Director, DC Native History Project

202.487.7092

http://onceasitwasdc.org/

*My previous correspondence with Kevin Gover can be found on this website: https://nativevillagemarker.blogspot.com/

City Ridge Presentation on Native American History of DC Book, Jan 30, 6p.

I'll be doing a presentation about my book at the City Ridge Apts, in Tenleytown, on Tues. Jan. 30, 2024, 6pm. It's free and open to the public.

Here are the details on how you can register and attend:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/native-american-history-of-washington-dc-by-armand-lione-tickets-800112316477?aff=oddtdtcreator

Native American Heritage Day 2023 - The Hidden Native Artifacts Found at the White House

For Native American Heritage Day 2023, this video tells the story of the Native artifacts found on the grounds of the White House and what we need to do to get them displayed publically.

https://youtu.be/oFEJ9SoR2eM 

New working link for "Manahatta to Manhattan"

Friend of the DCNHP, Tony Scialli, brought to my attention that the play "Manahatta" opened today in NYC. Perhaps more about that in the future, after Tony sees the play in December, but this note got me to look at the story I tell in Native History of Washington, DC:(p.120) (see text below). 

When I checked the online link for the pdf of "Manahatta to Manhattan," I found it had been changed. The new working link is: ManahattaFINAL.indd (ospi.k12.wa.us)

Here's how the strange story is told in the book -

"In 2018, I came across a publication of the NMAI, which has a museum

in New York City as well as Washington. The article that I found online was

“Manahatta to Manhattan,” an excellent retelling of the Native American

people of the Lenape tribe who once lived in Manhattan. In a letter I

wrote to Kevin Grover on October 15, 2018, I cited that document on the

Manahatta and pointed out that it contrasts sharply with the absence of a

similar story about the Native tribe of Washington, DC.142 Oddly, when I

later went back to look for the Manahatta document, I found it was no longer

available on the website of the NMAI. It can still be viewed online from a

website in Washington State."

Indigenous People's Day Oct 9, 2023

 To mark Indigenous People's Day 2023, here's the Land Acknowledgment for DC that was put together in 2019 with input from Chief Jesse James Swann of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe:

We acknowledge that this is the traditional land of the Anacostan People of the Piscataway Tribe.

"Native American History of Washington, DC" Book Release, Sept. 4, 2023!

 This book is the cullmination of what started with my earliest efforts to get a Native Village Marker for Capitol Hill!

Hopefully, telling the whole story of my collection of details on the Garfield Park/Carroll Estate site, and the many others around the city, will significantly increase awareness of the many missing stories in the Native history of DC!

Statement by Matriarch Julie Tayac Yates to Accompany Plaques Marking the Restoration of Piscataway Fishing Rights in Washington, DC

Following the ceremony that was held on Oct. 15, 2022, DOEE produced a set of ceremonial plaques to memorialize issuing the first licenses to restore native fishing rights in the waters of the District of Columbia. DOEE collaborated with Matriarch Julie Tayac Yates of the Piscataway Indian Nation and Chief Jesse James Swann, Jr. of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe to design their respective ceremonial plaques as a gift from DOEE to commemorate the historic occasion. 

Chief Swann issued a statement to accompany the Piscataway Conoy Tribe plaque that can be read at this link:  https://www.throughpiscatawayeyes.org/

Matriarch Tayac Yates issued a statement to accompany the Piscataway Indian Nation plaque that is posted here:

Under this mulberry tree on April 10, 1666, Leonard Calvert made a treaty with the Indians of the Village. 
 
Today, past and present, we are recognized with our traditions, and identities, we continue to
preserve our historical heritage. 
 
In memory of Chief Turkey Tayac  
27th Hereditary Sagamore, Piscataway Indian Nation 
1895-1978
 
Memewatt,
Matriarch Julie Tayac Yates
Dr. Gabrielle Tayac 

Note: Matriarch Tayac Yates' statement references the second image of the "Old Mulberry" tree on this page.

The DC Native History Project is proud to be among the groups receiving copies of the ceremonial plaques and both of the posted statements!