Stewardship and Solidarity: Connecting with the Baltimore American Indian Center
by Library Committee
Native American Heritage Month is a time for learning and acknowledging the vibrant Indigenous communities in our region. (Click here to read our blog about the Lumbee Tribe in Baltimore) Here in Baltimore, the Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC) at 113 S. Broadway has served as a vital community hub since it was established in 1968 by Lumbee people who migrated here from North Carolina. Today, BAIC serves as a gathering place for meetings, drumming, and educational events, featuring a museum dedicated to Lumbee and American Indian history.
It is important for us as Friends to acknowledge the complexity of our history in Maryland. Quakers who immigrated in the 1650s settled and claimed ownership of land, a concept often unknown to Native people. Though the Society of Friends established a Committee on Indian Affairs in 1795 to find descendants for "repayment," this was unsuccessful as many Native people had been migrated or removed. Later, Quaker involvement in Indian Schools in the 1800s, while rooted in the value of education, regrettably aimed to assimilate Native children into white culture. Today, we stand in solidarity with Native people working to reclaim their ancestral land, language, and traditions.
The continuation of our Meeting’s relationship with the BAIC is due in large part to the faithful, decades-long stewardship of Stony Run member, Dellie James. Dellie was a child in Georgia when she first heard her family talk about a possible connection to the Cherokee Nation. This sparked a lifelong affinity for the American Indian, which led her to join Homewood Meeting’s Indian Affairs Committee in the 1980s. BAIC's founding was financially supported by Homewood Friends Meeting in 1968, which continued to steward the organization for years following.
Eventually, Dellie's connection to BAIC continued through Stony Run. Dellie began attending the Lumbee community meetings. By showing up at various BAIC events, listening and being respectful, she gradually gained their trust. When she volunteered to help with the annual Powwow, they said yes. With Dellie’s help, Stony Run gave financial support to the BAIC to refurbish their community room, purchase new sound equipment, and replace the entrance area. Since 2015, when Dellie retired, she has been opening the doors to visitors as a faithful volunteer and continues to share a wealth of information about the Lumbee and Native American Culture.
Now residing at Friends House, Dellie remains a devoted volunteer, opening the museum to the public every Thursday and the last Saturday of every month from 12-3 PM. We encourage you to visit the BAIC, speak with Dellie, and gain insight into the history of the Lumbee and Native American culture.
Next week: The leading of Friend Bill Miles and his work with Native Americans in prison.