Origins of the Indigenous Cultural Landscape Concept in the Chesapeake Watershed

This presentation will introduce an innovative new approach to understanding large landscapes from the perspective of American Indian nations at the time of their first contact with Europeans. Such landscapes comprise the cultural and natural resources and relationships that would have supported the historic lifestyles and settlement patterns of Native groups in their totality. The concept presents the indigenous view of one’s homeland on a regional rather than a site based scale. The Indigenous Cultural landscape concept was developed in the Chesapeake Bay in response to the 2009 Chesapeake Bay Executive Order, and included in the management planning for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.  Following an introductory presentation about the concept, the speakers will discuss the concept’s utility in conservation strategy for the John Smith Trail. They will review the challenges of merging information from the archeological and historical records, from regional environmental data, and most importantly from descendant communities. Finally they will provide a brief glimpse of upcoming projects and additional uses for the concept. Audience members will be encouraged to discuss how these ideas can be used in opportunities for targeting land conservation, recreational access, interpreting the American Indian story at a landscape scale, and engaging diverse communities. The session leaders will also distribute a bibliography on Indigenous Cultural Landscape characteristics and resources.