The Maryland legislature has approved a name change for Indian Head Highway

On Monday night, both the House and Senate of Maryland’s state legislature decided to rename Indian Head Highway Piscataway Highway.

Before it can go into effect, the measure must be signed by Gov. Larry Hogan.

The Piscataway Conoy Tribe, which claims the name is disparaging to Native Americans, has focused on changing the name of the nearly 20-mile road that crosses Charles and Prince George’s counties, also known as Maryland Route 210.

Jesse James Swann, chief of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, addressed a letter last month to officials and legislators in both Maryland counties urging that Indian Head Highway be replaced with either Piscataway Highway or Pascattoway Highway to recognize one of the state’s two Native American tribes.

“This is our ancestral land and this highway was a major thoroughfare used by Piscataway and the surrounding tribes that were under our empire. We are the original inhabitants of this land — we were very accepting and very giving to those who formed what is now present-day Maryland.” – Jesse James Swann 

Featured Picture Credit: WTOP