In honor of Thanksgiving and the native people who made possible this yearly feast of thanks, ShoreBread is devoting the month of November to tracing the footsteps and telling the stories of the people who were indigenous to these coastal lands, and are often left out of accounts on local heritage.
We tend to define history as where “we” came from—our direct ancestral lineage. But long before Italian explorers were perusing the coast in the 1500’s, or the King of England issued land grants in the 1600’s, there were Native American Indians who hunted the forests, fished in the waters, and created communities.
As late as 1600, the Delmarva Penninsula was home to eleven tribes, the Accohannock, Accomack, Assateague, Pocomoke, Wicomico, Nanticoke, Choptank, Ozinies, Stockwogh, Indian River Indians, and the Lenni Lenape. The only modern-day references to these once revered tribes exist on a well-known scale in name only—as monikers to local towns and an island. There’s so much more to learn about these ancient people…what did they eat? Where did they live before they were forced out due to colonization?
Each week we will attempt to figure out what life was like for the Native Americans of the Eastern Shore by tracing their footsteps, speaking with local residents who have found authentic artifacts over the years, and retelling accounts told from old history books and first-hand stories from descendants of the ancient tribes.
Join us as we explore various trails throughout the wetlands and woods, look for evidence of hunting camps, or rumored burial grounds. Come along as we search for treasure — arrowheads and pieces of pottery, some rumored to be 10,000 years old.
Explore the history of the coastal region with us, by discovering the people who had a deep appreciation for our current stomping grounds. Learn something about their way of life—perhaps even some tidbits to impart towards a better way of living in modern times. Ultimately we will pay homage to the often overlooked stories of the first people to lay claim to our shores. We hope you enjoy reading each installment of “Native Footsteps.”
If you are history buff, or descendant of a local tribe, please contact us below. We would love to share your stories. Email us at info@shorebread.com.
