The Legacy of Chief Turkey Tayac

Chief Turkey traveled all over the East Coast helping native people, whether it was to attend a conference, a Pow-Wow, or if someone was sick. He was also a well-known healer, and a root and herb doctor. His mother passed her knowledge of healing and medicine to him, and more importantly, what it is to be used for. Mostly he worked and traveled to keep his Piscataway tribe active and visible in Maryland.

He worked with numerous anthropologists, especially William Gilbert and Frank Speck, along with others, seeking to record vanishing tribes. Many artists have painted his portrait, and when he died, the family recieved photos of him from strangers as well as friends. Tourists from around the world who read of his death, and the Congressional bill for his burial, sent pictures of Chief Turkey they had taken when in DC, to newspapers and the newspapers would forward them to the Tayac family.

In his will, after consulting with his other sons, as well as his cousin, Grace Faircloud Marsh, he passed the title of Chief to his son, Billy. Billy has worked long and hard to continue his father's legacy, and his son Mark, has already been chosen to succeed him.

By an Act of Congress, Chief Turkey, became the only Indian to be buried in a National Park after its creation. In response to request for comments regarding legislation to authorize Chief Turkey's burial, the Department of Interior, National Park Service entered a "no objections" report. Chief Turkey is buried in Piscataway National Park, the site of the village the Piscataway people were living when John Smith, the colonial Virginia explorer and trader, journeyed up the Potomac River in 1608. That was the first documented English encounter with the Piscataway.

Chief Turkey is burried in the Ossuary with the Ancient Piscataway Chiefs. In a letter to Billy Tayac, Chief Turkey is remembered by Thomas (Mike) Miller (President of the Maryland State Senate): "He was a truly remarkable man, and his memory continues to provide guidance for Native Americans not only in Maryland but across the Nation."

Chief Turkey's youngest daughter, the only one to remain in the area, is a very successful business woman. She owns the only Native American travel agency on the East Coast. She is contracted with many federal agencies in Washington, DC, and with many of the First Nations across the county.

Chief Turkey's oldest daughter left the area at a very early age, and his second daughter now in California, is very active in Indian issues. Chief Turkey's third daughter now lives in Florida and works with the elderly.

Chief Turkey's oldest son is a retired merchant marine who is living in San Diego. He is active in helping Indians who have relocated from Mexico. Chief Turkey's second son lives in New York City. Everyone calls him "Uncle Joe", and shares his wealth of knowledge willingly with those who need it. He and his wife Barbara, attend all ceremonies and important events at Tayac Territory. Uncle Joe is a master chef, and every Sun Dance, creates gourmet meals out of very simple staples. Barbara does all the running for everyone when at Tayac Territory. She is retired from the New York Public School System. Everyone knows what a wonderful couple they are - after all, they are Dr. Gabrielle Tayac's parents!

Chief Billy chose a different path than his father in 1972, after meeting Gene Skenadore in a restaurant in Washington, DC. Gene was an advanced coordinator for the Trail of Broken Treaties Caravans. Chief Billy joined with Gene and George Mitchell, one of the founders of the American Indian Movement (AIM), as a coordinator for the Caravans. When certain events precipitated the occupation for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building, Chief Billy joined them. After 1972, he intensified his participation in AIM events, both in DC and on a national levle. The burial grounds at Moyoane became an AIM issue. In 1981, the Piscataway took the descreation and access case to the United Nations Working groups on Indigenous People. With the help of the International Indian Treaty Council, Mark Tayac was selected to present the case before the U.N. Council in Geneva, Switzerland.