The Accokeek Foundation stewards the sacred homeland of the Piscataway People in Piscataway Park. This Women's History Month, we sat down with Dr. Gabrielle Tayac, longtime advisor and former Vice Chair of the Accokeek Foundation's Board of Trustees, to talk about the impact of Indigenous women in their communities and her work to share their stories.
Dr. Gabrielle Tayac is a public historian and community engaged scholar committed to empowering Indigenous perspectives. She is a Piscataway tribal citizen. Gabi earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from Harvard University, and her B.S. in Social Work and American Indian Studies from Council University. Her scholarly research focuses on hemispheric American Indian identity, multiracialism, indigenous religions, and social movements, maintaining a regional specialization in the Chesapeake Bay. Gabi served on staff at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian for 18 years as an educator, historian, and curator. She engages deeply in community relationships with wide presence in public discourse. Gabi is an Associate Professor of Public History at George Mason University. Her grandfather, Chief Turkey Tayac, is buried in Piscataway Park.
We are grateful for the opportunity to have this conversation with Gabi and look forward to more conversations in the future.