July 2022 - This offer is over 3 years old and not responded to. It is no longer in effect.
Kevin Gover, Director
National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian
Washington, DC
December 17, 2018
Re: Adding An Interactive site on the
Anacostan Natives of DC to the NMAI website
Dear Kevin Gover,
My interest in the Native history of
Washington, DC spurred me to create the Once As It Was map of DC
(http://onceasitwasdc.org/). It is a collection of the major
historical sites of the Anacostan Native people of DC. Those sites
include the Capitol and the White House.
When I last wrote you in October
(attached), the absence of the history of the Anacostans in the
National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) was contrasted with the
excellent segment on the NMAI website that told the story of the
Manahatta Natives of New York City. (See link from previous letter at
end).
That link is not currently working on
the NMAI website and a search for the title or even Natives of
Manhattan does not show that pdf file. The original document is still
available elsewhere online.*
Nevertheless, I'm hopeful that the NMAI
would now see fit to include the story of the Anacostan Indians of DC
on its website. I am writing to offer you the contents of the Once
As It Was DC website. That material includes an article that has
complete documentation for all of the website references.** I'm sure
in the hands of your staff, a much better presentation can be given
to the rich history of the Anacostans.
I appreciate having been contacted by
Eileen Maxwell on your staff, but it has occurred to me that you may
not have considered the use of the contents of my website, or you may
have been concerned about the possible financial cost of transferring
this information to the NMAI. This letter is to assure you that there
would be no cost to the museum. The contents of the website and the
overall map format are available to you free of charge.
However, if you do reproduce a version
of the website, some note that acknowledges my intellectual
contribution would be appreciated. The success of this transfer would
remedy the disappointing situation of my website offering many
details of the Native American history for Washington, DC that are
not included in the NMAI or it's website.
If you would like comment and
additional input on this matter from the descendents of the
Anacostans, I'd suggest contacting the Piscataway-Conoy tribal
council, which is based in Waldof, Maryland. Their website is http://www.piscatawaytribe.org/
Please be in touch with any specific
questions that might arise about this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Armand Lione, Ph.D.
533 4th St. SE, DC, 20003
armandlione@gmail.com
202.487.7092
cc: Eileen Maxwell, Supervisory Public
Affairs Specialist, NMAI
Original link:
“Manahatta to Manhattan, Native
Americans in Lower Manhattan”
(http://nmai.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/Manahatta_to_manhattan.pdf)
*The Manahatta to Manhatten pdf is
still available online to view and download at this Washington state
educational website:
http://www.k12.wa.us/IndianEd/TribalSovereignty/Elementary/USElementary/USElementary-Unit1/Level2-Materials/Manahatta_to_Manhattan.pdf
