Indigenous Heritage Day

18751 Hogaboom Lane
St. Mary's City , 20686

12 Sep 2026

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10:00am - 4:00pm

301-994-4370

hsmcc.info@maryland.gov

Demonstration, Events

Indigenous Heritage Day

18751 Hogaboom Lane
St. Mary's City , 20686

12 Sep 2026

10:00am - 4:00pm

Overview
Join Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) for this annual event, filled with ongoing demonstrations highlighting traditional methods in hide tanning, pottery, and cooking. Among the day’s highlights, attendees can look forward to a 1 p.m. performance by Mark Tayac and the Piscataway Indian Nation Singers & Dancers. Coming from Tayac Territory (Port Tobacco, MD), they will present a colorful, educational, and entertaining pow-wow-style event that features American Indian Dance, Drum, and song.

Also featured is Algonkian living historian Drew Shuptar-Rayvis, who will present “Eight Coats, Seven Shirts, Fifteen Fathom Wampum: Early Colonial Settlement and the First Deeds.” From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Drew will host ongoing demonstrations and discussions exploring the complex relationships between Indigenous communities and European settlers, including the importance of wampum, land usage, and the impact of early colonial conflicts.

Ongoing Demonstrations and Activities
- Pottery: Learn how Late-Woodland Indian pottery was crafted using traditional methods.
- Nature’s Bounty: Discover native and invasive plants that can be used for food, medicine, and more.
- Clothing: See how animal skins were preserved and transformed into clothing (visitor discretion advised).
- Canoe Burning: Watch as fire and stone tools are used to carve a dugout canoe.
- Atlatl Throwing: Try your hand at using this ancient spear-throwing tool.
- Cordage Making: Twist plant fibers into strong string using age-old techniques.
- Woodland Games: Play traditional games enjoyed by Native children and families.
Indigenous Heritage Day will take place outdoors, rain or shine

Admission for the day will be available to purchase at the HSMC Visitor Center (18751 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary’s City, Md 20686)

$15 adult; $13 senior; $10 children & students; free to ages 5 and younger. Free to museum members.