On May 1, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law a bill designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as American Indian Heritage Day.
The ceremony for the signing of the new state holiday was attended by Indian people from around the state, including members of the Accohannock Indian Tribe and the Piscataway-Conoy Tribe, many dressed in their ceremonial garb.
Though there are no federally recognized tribes in Maryland, the state is home to about 121,000 American Indians. The holiday “helps tell the world that we’re still here,” David “Longeye” Holland, treasurer of the Accohannock, was quoted as saying in a press report.
Other states have also designated days to honor their Native American populations, including California, Nebraska and South Dakota. Many of these state holidays have replaced Columbus Day. For years, Native groups and some federal lawmakers have pushed for a national Native American Day, a paid holiday, thus far with no luck.
