The
Accohannock Tribe has been recognized by the state of Maryland, the third in the state's history.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) signed an
executive order on December 19 acknowledging the tribe's status and a copy was presented to the tribe during a ceremony at the State House in Annapolis that same day. The decision came after a review of the tribe's history and genealogy.
"It was important for the Accohannock Indians not to become a lost and forgotten people," Chairman Mike Hinman said in a
press release distributed by the governor's office. "Today we can say with more meaning than ever, we are still here, where we have always been, and where we will go into the future until the creator tells us we are no more."
The Accohannock primarily live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and in nearby areas of Virginia. They were part of the historic
Powhatan Confederacy.
State recognition has no immediate bearing on federal recognition but it entitles the tribe and its citizens to market their goods as "Indian" under the
Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a federal law. Some federal laws are also open to state recognized tribes.
The
"Accohannock Indian Tribal Association, Inc" submitted a letter of intent to the
Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1995 but does not appear to have advanced further in the process.
Maryland's other recognized tribes are the
Piscataway Conoy Tribe and the
Piscataway Indian Nation. Both were acknowledged by a prior governor in 2012.
Read More on the Story:
Accohannock tribe receives Maryland Indian Status
(The Delmarva Daily Times December 19, 2017)
A Native American tribe on the Eastern Shore receives Maryland Indian Status
(The Washington Post December 19, 2017)
Maryland gives Indian status to Accohannock Tribe
(The Associated Press December 19, 2017)
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