Maryland Route 210 To Be Renamed Piscataway Highway To Honor Native American Tribes

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — After Jesse James Swann, chief of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, wrote a letter to politicians and legislators in Charles and Prince George's counties addressing the derogatory name of "Indian Head Highway," officials in the state legislature took up the issue this week.

Both the House and Senate approved changing the name of the 20-mile road, also known as Maryland Route 210, to Piscataway Highway, according to WTOP. Gov. Larry Hogan signed the bill into law, allowing the road to be renamed on Oct. 1.

Swann suggested using either Piscataway Highway or Pascattoway Highway as a tribute to 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,” Swann wrote. “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.”

Swann told WTOP that many people have been waiting for the name change for years.

“It does bother us culturally,” Swann said. “We don’t want to see ‘Indian Head’ on the signs displaying the area. We can’t wait until this is passed. We have a large celebration planned for Oct. 1 with thousands of tribal members, family, friends and stakeholders. We plan to bring millions of dollars of investments to this area for cultural tourism, and this is the start of it."

Swann worked with Julies Tayac Yates, Matriarch of the Piscataway Indian Nation, to come up with the name Piscataway Highway, as it equally represents both Maryland state-recognized tribes, he said, the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and the Piscataway Indian Nation.

"This is an honor to be recognized as most people don't even realize that we are still here. We have more than 3,500 enrolled tribal members. What better way to know that you are on Indian Land than to enter Maryland and see Piscataway Highway?" he said.

Swann told Fox 5 that renaming the highway will bolster their plans for the area.

"We are looking to build a cultural center/museum. We are looking to build this area as a cultural tourism mecca for the Piscataway. This will bring jobs to our people, a source of revenue for our tribe and the surrounding areas, as well as provide an opportunity to teach our culture to others in a way we deem appropriate. This is only the beginning, but it has been a long time coming," he said.

In February 2021, legislation was introduced to rename that stretch of road as President Barack Obama Highway. The legislation was sponsored by Sens. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) and Obie Patterson (D-Prince George’s).

The nearly 20-mile stretch of highway from Oxon Hill in Prince George’s County at the D.C. border through Charles County is considered by law enforcement officials to be one of the most dangerous roads in Maryland.