PreserveCast: In 1818, 42 years after the shot heard around the world cracked across the Massachusetts field, John Adams was asked to reflect on the meaning and impact of the American Revolution. In this brief letter, Adams explained that the American Revolution was not a common event. Its effects and consequences have already been over a great part of the globe. And when and where are they to cease? But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American War? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people. Revolutionary thought and thinking did not end with the Treaty of Paris, nor did it begin at Lexington and Concord. In this special podcast series, we'll explore the revolutionary ideas that were catalyzed and accelerated by the self-evident idea that all men are created equal in what bold and new thinking that declaration is forged. Revolution at 250 is a special production of PreserveCast in partnership with Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Center for History and Culture. Our hosts are Katie Calgene, president and CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. and Nicholas Redding, host of PreserveCast and president and CEO of Preservation Maryland. Welcome to today's episode of Revolution at 250. I'm Katie Kalijin here with co-host Nick Redding. We're thrilled to be joined by Angela Barnes, executive director of the Akakik Foundation at Piscataway Park. Angela is a passionate steward of traditional homelands of the Piscataway people, guiding visitors to see the park not just as a natural landscape, but as a living place of indigenous history, activism, and resilience. Since joining the Akikik Foundation in 2009, Angela has held many leadership roles and now as executive director, she continues to champion the parks mission of community engagement, environmental stewardship and collaborative action. Her work shines a light on Fisgataway Park's pivotal role in the American Indian Movement and its legacy of revolutionary ideas about indigenous sovereignty, land and community power right here in Maryland. Today we'll dive into the history and ongoing impact of this remarkable place from the activism of the 1960s and 70s to the legacy of leaders like Turkey Tayak and explore how the ideas born here continue to shape the park and our understanding of an indigenous presence today. Angela, thanks so much for joining us. Let's get started by talking a little bit about yourself ⁓ and your role at the Akikik Foundation. Yeah, thank you. It's such an honor to be with you both today. I'm a long life, Southern Marylander. I grew up on my family's farm along the Mattawimmon Creek, which is a tributary of the Potomac River. And I've been with the Foundation for 17 years now almost. ⁓ And I've served in many roles ⁓ since that time and before becoming the Executive Director in 2023. I'm also a citizen of the Piscatawee Konoe tribe, and a mom of two young adults, so I have lots of hats that I wear outside of my work at the park. I'm an avid explorer, adventurer, naturalist. I love national parks, hiking trails, kayaking along our waterways, and teaching the next generation about the importance of our region. So Angela, it's great to have you here and you have so many different roles and have had so many different experiences. For this podcast, Revolution at 250, we've been talking about this idea of revolutionary ideas and we've been talking about it through the lens of different individuals, different moments in history and how the revolution continues to reverberate throughout all aspects of American life. What do you think revolutionary ideas for this podcast? What does that mean in the context of Piscataway Park? Yeah, when I think about revolutionary ideas at Piscataway Park, I think about how boldly different its creation was and how ahead of its time it still feels. The park exists because Congresswoman Frances Payne Bolton imagined a new way of protecting land. Instead of creating a traditional national park, she championed the idea of preserving the historic view from Mount Vernon by protecting the living landscape across the river. And did so without displacing the people who already lived and worked here. And that was a radical idea in the 1950s and led by a woman nonetheless. It was truly innovative in its approach as a community led effort that advanced the use of scenic and conservation easements. keeping land in private hands while protecting the cultural, environmental, and scenic value. And it's model now used nationwide with the Skye Way Park as one of its earliest successes. ⁓ But beyond that, it was more than just scenery. The land is the ancestral homeland of the Skye Way people. And from the beginning, the idea was that preservation can honor both place and people. So. I guess when we're talking about revolutionary ideas, we're really talking about leadership, imagination, and courage. And Frances Payne Bolton helped prove that conservation could be collaborative, inclusive, and forward-looking, which we continue to live out that vision today. That's so amazing, ⁓ thinking about the time period in which that was happening. Throughout time, thinking about women leaders and ⁓ bold, innovative, trailblazing ideas. How does Akikik Foundation today continue to live up to those bold ideas and continue to connect people to landscape? ⁓ You know, we're really continuing to ⁓ advance efforts in education and conservation. And I stand on the shoulders of not only Congresswoman Bolton, but many of my predecessors and leaders who helped to continue ⁓ to lift up the stories of the land and the people. ⁓ We've had ⁓ representatives from ⁓ the community from both British Roads County and Charles County and the state. as well Biscataway ⁓ on our leadership, our board, and within our organization. And so I think it's really a testament to the dedication that the foundation has in ⁓ continuing that collaborative effort, working within the community to meet the needs of today. And I mean... The activism that was happening at Piscataway Park, it made the site itself sort of an important site for indigenous activism. Obviously the... the legacy of the revolution is different in different communities and it plays out in different ways. And I think one of the points that we've been trying to make through this series is that the Revolutionary War may have ended in the 1780s, but the revolution, this idea of ⁓ the rights of all and individual liberty, liberty of conscious, of thought, ⁓ continued on. ⁓ Is that represented, is the revolutionary ideas represented in that ⁓ indigenous activism of the 60s and 70s? Yeah, so in the in the 60s, what I would say as far as Piscataway Park, mean, during that time period, the park itself was emerging as a rare space for federal preservation and Indigenous vision where it intersected. The park actually was authorized in 1961 under President Kennedy, but it took several years of work, land donations. both from the Ackee Foundation and private landowners and community advocacy for the park to be completely ⁓ dedicated in 1968, which was happening around the same time as the Civil Rights Movement. And during the Civil Rights Movement, you had the American Indian Movement, BORN or AIM, which emerged as a national grassroots movement focusing on Indigenous civil rights, sovereignty and cultural survival. And eventually that effort came to the East Coast, came to Washington DC and ultimately Biscayne Park at that time. So at Piscataway Park, so maybe share a little bit about, also just thinking about the 1970s as the bicentennial year and like the backdrop of that anniversary as this movement for indigenous race was happening. How did that play into the social backdrop of the movement? Yeah, so there were several movements, what I would say caravans of Western tribes to Washington DC in that time period. And there was one specifically that occurred in 1976, it was called the Trail of Self-Determination. And it challenged the idea that Native people, you know, still existed, especially here on the East Coast. And AIM activists came to DC and ultimately ⁓ stayed with actually my family in southern Maryland. And they learned about Biscato, they stayed with Biscato community here in southern Maryland. And they learned about Biscato Park and ⁓ its importance, ⁓ actually more referred to as Moyon, the ancestral capital of the Biscato chiefdom. and learned about the ancestral sacred burial and the spiritual connection of the land for the Biscayte Way people and learned about a block house that was built over the ancestral burial for educational purposes within the park, which started a movement by the activists to take down that block house and actually return ancestors back to the land there. And I know you said you're a member of the nation and obviously, you know, we wouldn't want you to like speak on behalf of the nation. You can't speak for all indigenous people and ⁓ nor would we ask you to do that. But I'm curious. ⁓ Maybe you could explain sort of a part of the history, at least. of ⁓ why it has been so challenging for the Indigenous people of Maryland to receive recognition. I think that one of the challenges and one of the, in the general public consciousness is that in some communities, in some states in the United States, there is a very large Indigenous representation. There are ⁓ federally recognized tribes and Maryland does not have those and it has been a struggle for the indigenous people of Maryland to be recognized. Only in the past 10, 15, 20 years has the state, you know, recognized some of these tribes. I guess I ask that not only to give people a background on the Piscataway, the Piscataway-Kanoi, the tribes and the other tribes of Maryland that we're talking about, but also to maybe lend a little light on why a place like Piscataway Park is so important. to that recognition and to that story. I feel like that's an important part of this conversation that might be missing for some listeners. Yeah, I think it's important to also kind of think about history in this context and colonial history and how federal recognition is really between the United States and the tribal nations. And ⁓ that is usually because there was a treaty. with a tribal nation and the United States. So in that context, when you think about the Revolutionary War period and that time period, this was not the United States of America. This was under ⁓ the colonial ⁓ powers, if you will. And our treaties, the Piscataway treaties and most of colonial America at the time, were treaties were with the crown. They were with Britain. And so it you know, during the early 1600s and that time period, the native tribes of the East Coast really carried the brunt of the impact of colonization. And as a result, the leadership's relationship with America didn't really fully exist, at least not in it's, I'm trying to figure out how to explain it best, but not really in an official way, if that makes sense, because of the displacement and the movement and the having to have alliances with tribes all up and down the East Coast from the Honoshaunee all the way down towards, you know, the Palatine and the South of Virginia tribes. So you had all these intricate relationships and treaties with the colonies, with Pennsylvania, with New York, etc. ⁓ which really weren't treaties with the United States of America until after 1770s. So I think that's the easiest way to explain federal recognition and why some have had easier pathways than others. ⁓ And then I think to answer the latter part of your question about the long-term impact, ⁓ I think really focusing on the Piscataway Park and AIM and the activism. ⁓ And really our spiritual and cultural leader, Turkey Tyak, he was the chief Turkey Tyak, he was very much present all throughout this time period and front and center with the park's creation, ⁓ which really helped to ⁓ spark a resurgence of Native pride and gave the Skye Way people the space and courage ⁓ in the 1970s to reclaim their identity at a time when being Native in Maryland. was denied or discouraged. I we refer to the time period ⁓ between 1770s and 1970s as the ⁓ kind of the hiding and playing site. know, really ⁓ had our ancestors had ⁓ acclimated to the new ways and really became kind of blended in within the community's culture. and farmed and worked and lived on the land alongside their colonial neighbors. Right. And so as a result, ⁓ your native identity outwardly was masked and hidden. You didn't and couldn't really ⁓ safely ⁓ actually practice openly your culture. That was done more in private and Turkey-Tayyip's leadership really ⁓ made the indigenous presence, especially within Piscataway Park, impossible to ignore. It shifted that public conversation from erasure to acknowledgement, and it helped to leave that critical groundwork for broader awareness and eventually state recognition that affirming that Piscataway history is living, ongoing, and rooted deeply within this landscape. What do you think made it so What was special about Turkey Tyak? ⁓ What comes along in the 19th? Obviously he's a special person, but is it that he was the right person at the right moment at the right time to bring that message? Or did he come at it from a different perspective than others had before? ⁓ Well, Turkey Tyak was among one of the ⁓ remaining language bearers, culture bearers, he was a medicine man. He was born in late 1800s, so you know, he remembered the ways. And he was a staunch advocate for, you know, continuing your spiritual and cultural practices and actually, you know, helped to carry on that culture throughout generations. It's hard for me to because I was born in the mid 1970s. ⁓ I never had the pleasure to meet him myself, ⁓ but he was a good friend of my family's. his presence, I think, just kind of carries on as an advocate for Native culture, Native pride, and Native identity. And I was very outspoken about that. you know, you kind of look at the pictures of the park's dedication and he's wearing the headdress and, you know, standing next to Congresswoman, you know, Bolton and the Secretary of Interior. mean, that picture alone is profound. And it says something if you kind of read into it a little bit more. Yeah, and his, I. from the times that I've visited, it seems that his presence is still felt there and he is referenced often. He's not forgotten to history. He is a character that continues to be part of the central narrative and his spirit is there, right? He is buried at Piscataway Park. Can you talk a little bit about that journey? I know that that was not the simplest of acts to achieve. Yeah, Turkey understood early that creating a national park would do more than, you know, protecting the landscape and the scenery, saw it as a way of safeguarding the ancestral lands and the burial grounds and ensuring continued spiritual access for our people. And, you know, it was more of a handshake deal and an understanding. He still spoke our language, but I don't believe he kind of read or wrote very much. So. in the creation of the park with the then Secretary of Interior, Udaw, ⁓ it was under the agreement that he would be buried along with the ancestors, ⁓ which didn't occur until 1978, ⁓ I believe it was. And so I think that effort in itself took an actual act of Congress. ⁓ to be buried within the park because the park was in existence in the 1970s at that time. And, you know, because there wasn't like a written agreement or anything like that, it did take a lot of advocacy by the family and by the community to honor his, ⁓ that commitment that was verbally made, right? And I say in our culture, ⁓ you know, your word is every bit as good as what is written down. And I think that that's one of the challenges with documenting histories and things of that nature is who wrote it down is the one whose perspective that history is known as, right? And I'm really grateful for, you know, oral traditions that are passed down these stories. And, you know, we may all remember the stories a little differently and, you know, depending on our perspective and our lived experiences, but One of the things that I really enjoy about my work is being able to talk with elders and those who remember those stories. And, you know, it's kind of like that phone game gets passed down from generation to generation. And the details might be a little different each and every time you hear it, but really the base of the story is the same. And the base of the story of Turkey's legacy and his commitment has been, you know, not just Biscataway Park and Moyoan, but all throughout. Maryland and Southern Maryland, you know, just really reclaiming these spaces along the waterways, along our ancestral villages, which is dappled all throughout the Chesapeake region. ⁓ You know, our traditional homeland is west of the Chesapeake, all the way to the foothills of the mountain ranges. So you have a lot of our landscapes that are, ⁓ you know, kind of at risk to being ⁓ lost and forgotten, especially with things like erosion along the waterways. ⁓ So there's so many throughout our region who remember him and share these stories. And I think that's just really important that we keep speaking these truths. I think, you know, one of the things for me that's so interesting about Piscataway Park is that ⁓ It's like the ultimate layered history site, right? Like it's there's layer upon layer upon layer of stories and histories and people intersecting. mean, you have the history of the preservation of the park. You have the whole George Washington component, you the Mount Vernon viewshed component to this, which, you know, I think we've kind of alluded to, but I mean, it is in the viewshed of George Washington's Mount Vernon on the Virginia side and sort of looking off. They didn't want to see an, you know, an, an industrial. viewshed. And in part because of that desire, it also then yielded the result of savings, really sacred and important site associated with the Piscataway people. I mean, it's just layer upon layer upon layer. And obviously the story doesn't end with Turkey Tyak, it continues to this day as a site of recognition. And, you know, when the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area had its big event to announce its creation, it went to this place ⁓ to host that event. And you have a special relationship obviously with the National Park Service. They have a role there. The Foundation has a role. As we approach and we're now in this 250th anniversary year, ⁓ looking back through all of this, What does the 250th mean for your foundation, for your work? How are you using that to try and tell these stories and to elevate these stories? Is this a moment of even greater recognition for all the different stories that you're telling? Yeah. I think those revolutionary ideas are visible in how we are interpreting and stewarding the park. We are blending those narratives together and we're actually looking at not only ⁓ preservation of culture and heritage and stories, but the land itself, which holds the memories and those stories. And by combining ⁓ both ecological conservation and historical and cultural conservation. And we're really kind of bringing those ⁓ kind of Western perspectives together in that regard. So we work with our current partners in conservation and education and preservation and blending all of that together. ⁓ You know, in order for us to understand where we are today and where we're going in the future, we've got to be able to understand our past and where we came from, how we got here. ⁓ We don't want to repeat the past. We want to learn from it. And the other aspect of it is, my perspective, I've always found it very interesting how we separate the two schools of thought of conservation and preservation as if humans are not part of nature. And from an indigenous world perspective, we are very much integrated with the natural world, without Earth sustaining life. Without the plant people, the animal people, know, our Ken book, you know, we have to take care of the earth in order for us as the human race to survive. And, you know, I really think about this from a seven generations perspective that is very much deeply rooted in indigenous culture throughout Turtle Nation or Turtle Island as the Americas is referred to. And we think about the seven generations and what a generation is. So generations like me and my daughter, any subsequent grandchildren I don't have right now, but you know, kind of think each of us is a representative of a generation every 30 years or so is about the math of the generation. So when you think about the 250, that is seven generations. 250 years is seven generations. So when I think about 250 years ago, versus 250 years in the future, what is that going to look out like? And everything we do today is going to affect the future and my children, my children's children and so on and so forth. And what place are we leaving? Because we are not really, ⁓ we're kind of like borrowing the future from the future generations. with what we do today, right? So it's important that we are listening and learning from each other and coming together to, you know, kind of make sure that we're leaving this place in a better situation than we found it. Yeah, and so much of your work, that's such a beautiful way to think about it. And it's like this continuum. So much of the work that you're doing at Akikik is with youth engagement and thinking about the next generation and how do we empower them to take it forward into the next 250 years? Is there anything on the horizon that you're excited about thinking about youth engagement for 2026? Yeah, I'm actually really inspired by the youth. They're very bright ⁓ and ⁓ quite observant and astute. We really work closely with our local education agencies. The park spans two counties, so jurisdictionally we support Prince George's County and Charles County students. We work primarily with public school systems. and you know we're kind of bringing together those the science curriculum with the social studies curriculum and blending that in. And we work with external conservation partners so we're not just focusing on the lands at the Scott Way Park but throughout southern Maryland. So I'm really excited about some of our programs that we've been reintroducing where we teach about. how the land echoes over time. We look at the history, we blend it in with the current environmental conservation concerns. the youth, the children, the students who come to the park to experience it, it's just so ⁓ inspiring, their reflections and... and being able to be in the landscape itself and learn about the stories, to see the water, the smell, the air, and everything. ⁓ The work that we do is really working with the teachers, and they actually enjoy some of our programming too. So we focus on teacher professional development, because when you're really thinking about, ⁓ it's more than the school tour experience, right? You got to think about it systemically. ⁓ And so that's where our work is really rooted in working with our local education agencies systemically to enhance and improve curriculum understanding, specifically in, you know, Biscataway culture and understanding, because in the state of Maryland, for the first time ever, ⁓ all fourth graders must learn about Biscataway and Akahannock people. And, you know, we're a source for that information. And it is definitely something that I am grateful for ⁓ our state education system in enhancing that curriculum and making sure that that is rooted. That is ⁓ actually something that our elders 50 years ago ⁓ said was an important priority was education. And so to see that to actually kind of come to fruition a little bit now is pretty mind blowing. I remember when I was in fifth grade and fourth grade here in Maryland, and I can tell you that our teachers did not teach us about ourselves. In fact, you know, we were always asked to come and do in-classroom supports and stuff. And I remember my son when he was in fourth grade and he had a school project to research a Native tribe and give a presentation on how they lived and what they wore and what they ate and et cetera, everything in the past tense. And he came home and he said, mom, I picked the Skadaway because that's what we are. And this is what we have to do. And I said, ⁓ we're going to do this differently. So I just go through the family album and show them how we live, how we eat, everything in the present tense. So, you know, to see that move from ⁓ a family effort to kind of more of a collaborative effort is really really amazing. Yeah, and I feel like in no small part that's because in many ways because of the work of sites like yours, particularly yours in a state like Maryland where we've talked about, you know, for so long there was this lack of recognition and now in part because of the recognition, because of sites like this making it so apparent. ⁓ I think there's a lot more awareness of it in the state. mean, there could obviously be a lot more and obviously efforts like what you're talking about will help with that. But for many Marylanders, going to Piscataway may be their first introduction to the indigenous story of Maryland. I mean, in that sense, ⁓ there are these certain gateway sites to different parts of history. And so you sort of feel... when you work at those, having worked at one before, you sort of feel responsible for telling like the whole story. Like this is, we may only be able to capture them once. Do you feel that? And is that part of the future of the site? Is this a site where if somebody in Maryland has not been introduced to the indigenous story, you're sort of a, ⁓ sort of this gateway to kind of introduce people to this and to. interest them and make them aware of things like what you're talking about. I think one of the big takeaways too, and I've heard this from many different indigenous speakers and people that we've spoken with, ⁓ is that this is not something in the past. This is not ⁓ a, you know, you don't talk about this as if the Piscataway once did something. It's what the Piscataway do today. ⁓ But those sorts of ideas in conveying that, you have a sense of responsibility of being sort of that vanguard for these stories for people in Maryland and beyond? Yeah, absolutely. I think it's important to kind of think about geographically where we're located. We're just 20 miles south from Washington, DC. And so we have, and we're a national park. So as a national park, you get a lot of recognition from visitors from all over the world, really. And as you're coming into the Southern Maryland region, being in the Southern portion of Prince George's County, we are that first stop as you're coming from the Beltway down Route 210, right? So being able to serve as a place where visitors can get a just a sampling of the breadth of ⁓ Southern Maryland's culture, its history, and to be able to see where else can I go when I'm here visiting, right? We are that gateway. We are the gateway as you're leaving Prince George County, going into the three more southern parts of Maryland. But we're also like in the national capital region within the park service. which, you know, we're the only place that centers fully Indigenous culture and presence, ⁓ education and learning that is blended. There are this layered histories, and by partnering with the Indigenous community, we're able to tell fuller truths about the land, and so that the park can continue to serve as a place of remembrance, education, and continuing that cultural continuity. for visitors within the Washington DC area. Well, I mean, the work that you're doing is just so inspiring and we're so happy to call you a partner and, you know, like just finding new ways to collaborate across the state, right? Like you've been talking a lot about Southern Maryland, if that, you know, finding new ways across the state and across the nation, right? Like being, being an example for other, for other states. know Nick has a broad listenership with Preservecast, so people might not just be from Maryland listening to this episode. So. Maybe we could round it out and talk a little bit about your hopes for next year for 2026. We like to think that it will be a hopeful year for thinking about history and the power of better understanding the past so that we can inform our future. Is there anything in particular for 2026 that you're particularly excited for or hopeful about? You want to challenge us to think more about as we're entering this momentous occasion? Yeah, I think probably I hope people ⁓ when they visit Piscataway Park that they leave with an understanding ⁓ or even after listening to this podcast, they leave with an understanding that history is not settled, it's living. And the stories and the places that are preserved teaches us that the land holds memory. ⁓ Justice requires truth and understanding and indigenous presence has never disappeared. As we look ahead, I think the story that we're unfolding invites visitors to not just see the park as a beautiful place, but as a space that's been shaped by courage, resilience and revolutionary ideas that matter today. I think that's a great place to leave the conversation, a great kind of capstone to that. And we'll make sure that there's links in the show notes here as a part of Revolution at 250 so people can learn more about visiting the site and all the 250 content that I'm sure the site will be bringing to the public over the coming months. Lots of different opportunities to engage and always a good reason to go and visit Piscataway Park. There's always something new to see there. And I know I always enjoy it. and getting to see all the different cool aspects of it, not to mention all the different farm animals and some things associated with it. But I can't thank you enough, Angela and Katie, it's always good to have you along for this conversation, Revolution at 250, talking about how the revolution continues to inspire to this day. Thank you so much. Thanks for listening to Preservecast. To dig deeper into this episode's story, head over to Preservecast.org for show notes and our collection of previous episodes. Don't forget to engage with this podcast by subscribing, commenting, and leaving a review. Follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Preservecast for even more. Preservecast is currently recorded in Walkersville, and sponsored by the 1772 Foundation and powered by Preservation Maryland. Thanks for listening and keep on preserving.