About the Commission
The Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs (MCIA) was created by the Maryland
General Assembly in 1976 to represent and serve the State's American Indian
community. As the official statewide agency for American Indians, the Commission
initiates and supports a wide range of activities that promote the welfare of
Maryland's Indian people and further the understanding of American Indian
history and culture. The Commission also operates for the state to provide both
a forum for the concerns of Maryland's Indian communities and a vital liaison
between these communities and the State and Federal governments.
The Commission is directed by an Executive Director with offices in the Department
of Human Resources (DHR) in Baltimore, Maryland.
Regular MCIA meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the each month at different
places throughout Maryland. Please view
Commission Meetings for more information.
Phone Numbers
DHR: 800-332-6347
MCIA 410-767-7631
Executive Director: E. Keith Colston
FAX 410-333-3980
Maryland Relay for the Deaf 1-800-735-2258
Duties of the Commission
- To initiate and direct projects that further the understanding of American
Indian history and culture.
- To undertake a comprehensive study of American Indian tribes in Maryland
including the Accohannock, Creek, Cherokee, Chippewa, Choptank, Delware, Haliwa,
Lumbee, Nanticoke, Piscataway, Pocomoke, Potomac, Rappahannock, Seminole,
Shawnee, Susquehanna, and Wicomico, and explore their influences upon Maryland
history and culture.
- To study the status of all American Indian groups, tribes, and communities
in the State and assist them in obtaining State and/or Federal recognition.
- To study the economic and social needs of American Indians in Maryland and
recommend specific actions to meet those needs.
- To locate, preserve, and disseminate information to the public regarding
significant sites, artifacts, and archives relating to Indian history and
culture.
- To publish an annual report and any other materials that are deemed
necessary.
- To assist state, local, and private agencies in addressing the educational,
economic, and social needs of American Indian communities in Maryland.
Legislation
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