The Chesapeake Bay region was home to a great diversity of people, dating back over 10,000 years. By the 1600s, there were three major language groups in the area, the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Siouan. These language speaking communities were made up of multiple tribes. A fourth major group is the Powhatan Confederacy, which was a political alliance composed of Algonquin-speaking tribes spanning from Maryland to the Carolinas.
Tribes present in the area that would later become Maryland include:
Algonquin: Annemessex, Assateague, Chaptico (Cecomocomoco), Choptank, Transquaking, Delaware (Lenni-Lenape), Doeg, Matapeake, Mattapanient, Mattawomen, Nacotchtank (Anacostan), Ozinie, Patuxent, Piscataway, Moyaone, Nanjemoy, Potapoco, Shawnee, Tockwogh, and Yoacomaco
Powhatan Confederacy: Accohannock, Nentego (Nanticoke), Manokin, Wicomico, Pamunkey, and Pocomoke
Iroquois: Massawomeck, Susquehannock, and Tuscarora
Siouan: Tupelo and Saponi
*Note: The terms "Iroquois" and "Sioux" were names given to Native communities by colonial settlers. Some people today consider these terms to be slurs. See Terminology and Search Terms for more information.
Today, the Chesapeake region is home to tens of thousands of people of Native descent. These individuals have diverse backgrounds and experiences; some are members of state or federally recognized tribes, while others are descendants of tribes that once lived in or migrated through the area.
Today, there are 3 tribes recognized by the state of Maryland. These are the Piscataway Indian Nation, the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, and the Accohannock Indian Tribe.
Tribes served by the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs include:
Accohannock
Accohannock Native American Living Village
Accohannock Indian Tribal Museum
Bending Water Park, 28325 Farm Market Road, Marion Station, MD 21838
Phone: (410) 623-2660
E-mail: accohannock@verizon.net
Mailing address: c/o Accohannock Indian Tribe, Inc., P. O. Box 404, 28380 Crisfield-Marion Road, Marion Station, MD 21838 – 0404
