On the way up the Potomac River to Washington, the peace boat will retrace Maryland’s founding in 1634. We will gather at the gravesite of Chief Turkey Tayac to honor his legacy and to show our respect to the Piscataway Nation.
On the way back down the river, we will call out the dreadful radiological and chemical contamination of the entire watershed that is largely the result of military activities.
February 27, 2023
Golden Rule DC Organizing Committee Online here.
Learn more about the Vets for Peace Golden Rule ship - and No Nukes education here.
Helen Schietinger, Pat Elder, Judy Allen-Leventhal, Julie Tayac Yates, Ross Yates, and Marc Imlay at the Wagner Community Center in the Moyaone Reserve at the Piscataway National Park
Helen and Pat are working with the Golden Rule DC organizing committee. Judy Allen Leventhal is a member of the Accokeek Foundation, an organization that owns and administers much of the land in the park. Julie Tayac Yates is the daughter of Turkey Tayac who is buried in the Piscataway National Park. Julie is the Matriarch of the Piscataway Indian Nation. Julie’s husband, Ross Yates is standing in the background. Marc Imlay is a conservation biologist.
Piscataway Indian Nation Chief Turkey Tayac (1895-1978)
See this amazing one-hour documentary, The Flickering Flame – Life and Legacy of Chief Turkey Tayac. This is the story of the man who led the Piscataway Indian Nation and their revitalization in the 20th century. From his childhood to his work as an herbalist and traditionalist who embraced the advent of the American Indian Movement, to his last days and the campaign to have him buried in a national park that was once the ancient Piscataway village and burial site Moyaone. His fascinating life is shared in memories of friends and family.
See, also, WETA's Turkey Tayac’s Fight for the Piscataway People
See the informative comments at 33:40 by Dr. Julia King, Professor of Anthropology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in this documentary The Discovery of the Zekiah Fort. Piscataway Chief Billy Redwing Tayac follows Dr. King at 40:26. At 49:00 the chief describes the sacred burial grounds at the Moyoane Reserve where we will hold our memorial service for Turkey Tayac, Chief Billy Redwing’s father.
Photo: Artifacts from Zekiah Fort (St. Mary’s College of Maryland)
****************************************
Plans for April 2, 2023
Julie Tayac Yates stands by an information marker in the Piscataway National Park that shows Turkey Tayac and others during the dedication of the park in 1968.
The Wagner Community Center is owned by a private foundation and is situated entirely within the sprawling Piscataway National Park. We plan to gather here on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at noon. It is located at 2311 Bryan Point Rd, Accokeek, MD.
Plans call for an indigenous Indian potluck lunch to be served at 1:00 pm. We have formed a committee to hammer out the details of the entire event.
Piscataway Park is located directly across the Potomac River from George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
After lunch we’ll take a short drive to a parking area in the Piscataway National Park adjacent to a ½ mile boardwalk that leads to the ancient Piscataway burial ground where Julie’s dad, Turkey Tayak is buried.
The Golden Rule will sail through the Great Lakes to Wisocnsin the beginning of September. Contact Vets for Peace in Milwaukee to be involved.
Sent to WNPJ by Pat Elder - pelder@militarypoisons.org
Comments