Teacher Resource Guide
The Accokeek Foundation
We are a non-profit that cares for more than 200 acres of Piscataway Park from Accokeek Creek on the north, south along the Potomac to Marshall Hall. This land is Moyaon, the traditional capital of the Piscataway Confederacy. It also includes Bryan Point, the site of a former shad hatchery in the early 20 century As part of our cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, we steward this land and seek to educate visitors about its often untold history from the perspective of all those that have lived, worked, and cared for this land th
Piscataway Language
ThelanguagetraditionallyspokenbyPiscatawaypeopleispartofalarger AlgonquianlanguagefamilyspokenbyIndigenouspeoplesallacrossthe eastcoastofTurtleIsland(NorthAmerica)andfurtherinlandnearthe GreatLakes Althoughitisnotwidelyspokentoday,tribalmembersare workingtorevitalizeit!HereareafewroughtranslationsofPiscataway wordstoknow:
Piscataway–meaning“wherethewatersblend,"referringtothe confluenceofmanyfreshandbrackishwaterwaysinthearea. Moyaon–meaning"everythingishere,"pronounced"Moy-own" referringbothtothegreatabundanceofthisplaceaswellasitbeing thecenteroftheentirePiscatawayhomeland
Accokeek–meaning"placeofwildfruit"notesanabundantareaand creek
Waterways of Piscataway Land
Approximatelywhereamajority populationofPiscatawaypeople traditionallylive*
Majorwaterways
Piscataway‘capital’ofMoyaone
*PLEASENOTE:ThisroughpinkshadedregiondoesnotaccuratelyrepresentallofPiscataway territory,justanapproximateareawherePiscatawaytraditionallyspendmostoftheirtime
Piscataway Land Relations
Nature is Kin
To the Piscataway, the two-legged (people) are part of the Land and relatives of all the other life: like the 4-legged, those that crawl, that swim, that fly, the plants, and the waters
People are not separate from their ecosystems; they are part of it
People are not better than other organisms; they are their kin (relatives, family, cousins)
“Everythinghasapurpose.Itisnotourroleastwo-legged todeterminethatpurpose,buttosupportit... andlearn howtofitintotheLand.”-MarioHarley(Piscataway)
Honorable Harvest
Indigenous peoples, including the Piscataway, traditionally follow these kinds of practices (shown below) to respectfully and sustainably harvest plant and animal relatives. Tobacco, a sacred plant to Piscataway people, is traditionally offered to show gratitude.
Never take the first one
Reciprocate the gift
Share what you've taken
Minimize harm
Listen for the answer Ask permission
Take only what you need
Use everything you take Be grateful
Traditional Foodway Disruption
Example: Manominx (Wild Rice)
1800s
European colonists cleared many wetlands and pushed Piscataway people away from the shores
On the mouth of the Anacostia (near Navy Yard) Wild Rice was still abundant
Traditionally (pre-Europeans)
Nutritious, filling, and abundant
Manominx (wild rice) was harvested yearly by Piscataway families for uncountable generations
Manominx was processed to be stored and eaten throughout the winter
1980s
The same stretch of the Anacostia has no wetland, no wild rice, and is generally overly developed due to colonial policies
This is still true today
Accokeek Foundation Resource Documents
This is a starting point for teachers who are looking to broaden their understanding of Southern Maryland. The two resource documents linked within focus on many areas of African American and Indigenous history and culture For further information, please reach out to our librarian, Kate Hanfling, at khanfling@accokeekorg
Indigenous History and Culture Resources
African American History and Culture Resources
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Accokeek Foundation school programs are designed using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to make sure that all students engage in academically rigorous curriculum and learning, feel affirmed in their identities and experiences, and develop the knowledge and skills to critically engage the world and others. School programs are aligned to local education agencies’ newest standards for social studies and environmental literacy By interweaving these subjects that are often siloed, students strengthen understanding in each discipline and grow through holistic learning.
LAND ECHOES
ListentotheLandandinterconnect thestoriesofPiscatawayfarmers, AfricanAmericanwaterman,and Englishfurtraders Byweaving EnvironmentalLiteracyandSocial Studiesonthisinteractive experience,studentswilllearnhow ourstrugglesonthisLandecho eachother
Grade4-9
PISCATAWAY PARK: WORLDS COLLIDE
CULTIVATING OUR ROOTS
Experiencelushgardensfullof culturallyandhistoricallysignificant plants Studentswillsee,touch,and smelltheintersectingfoodwaysof Indigenous,European,andAfrican culturesinPiscatawayPark Hands-on service-learningreconnectsstudents withtheland’sgiftsoffood,medicine, ceremonies,fibers,craftsanddyes
Grade4-10
ThistouremploysPiscatawayParkasanoutdoorclassroom andutilizesplace-basedlearningtoeducatestudentsonthe interconnectednessofhumans,theenvironment,andeach other Studentsgainknowledgeaboutpre-contact Piscatawaycultureandhistory,earlycoloniallife,and contemporaryenvironmentalissues Thetourhighlightshow everythingwithinahabitatplaysaroleinmaintainingits health Hands-onactivitiesallowstudentstolearnhowhuman actionscanhavebothapositiveandnegativeimpactontheir environmentandeachother.
Grade2-8
WILD RICE
Enterawetlandecosystemto gettoknowsomeedible nativewetlandplants Learn howIndigenousrelationships withplantsandanimals,like WildRice,havetraditionally fedpeoplesofmillennia,and worktorestorelocalWildRice populations
Grade7,PGCPSMWEE
STORYTIME
Enjoybooks,songs,movementand funthatentertainandeducateyour littles!Hands-onexperiencescovering 18thcentury,nativeplants,Indigenous andAfricanstorytelling,andfarm-totablewhilehelpingyoungchildren developtheirearlyliteracyskills Availablebothonsiteandin classrooms
Pre-K-2nd
wwwaccokeekorg (301)283-2113 3400BryanPointRd, Accokeek,MD20607
This publication is made possible by the generous support of The Chesapeake Bay Trust .
