Maryland Indigenous Tribes Today

Essential Question:

 

Native communities in Maryland are vibrant and active. Tribal members work in many professions, attend schools, and run businesses. Today, Native nations are preserving their cultural traditions while also leading their communities, making decisions through tribal governments, and sharing their history with the public in new ways.

In this section, you will explore how Native people in Maryland contribute to daily community life through leadership, education, public history projects, and technology. As you explore this section, look for different ways Native communities are visible in Maryland today. Pay attention to how Native nations use leadership, technology, and public spaces to strengthen their communities and share their history.

In many Native communities, leaders called chiefs guide their tribes. Some chiefs are elected and serve for a set period of time, while others inherit their leadership roles and serve for life. Most tribes also have tribal councils, groups of members who help make decisions and represent the community. Community gatherings such as social dinners, ceremonies, and powwows are common today and help bring people together, celebrate traditions, and strengthen a sense of belonging. These systems of leadership and community life help Native nations continue to make decisions, preserve culture, and serve their members today. Native communities also share their history and culture through educational programs, museum exhibits, and partnerships with schools, helping students learn about Indigenous lifeways directly from Native voices.

Check your Knowledge

What areas of life do the following actions help to strengthen? Select and place each example into the correct column.