Tiara Thomas is an American Indian educator, activist, and leader who advocates for the rights and recognition of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and other Indigenous Nations. She is the current Chair of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, where she works to promote the interests and concerns of the American Indian communities in the state. She was appointed to the commission in 2020 and again in 2023.
She is also the Managing Deputy Director at the Accokeek Foundation at Piscataway Park, where she leads development and implementation of educational programs that highlight the history and culture of the Southern Maryland region. She is an expert on Piscataway culture and history and co-leads a course at the
University of Maryland College Park called “Where the Water’s Blend: Contemporary Indigenous Perspectives on History, Traditions, and Modern Issues.” She has also co-authored an academic article on the challenges and opportunities of Indigenous representation and collaboration in higher education titled, Tribal Collaborations and Indigenous Representation in Higher Education: Challenges, Successes, and Suggestions for Attaining the SDGs.” She is actively involved in the Charles County Title VI Indian Education Program, where she serves as the Chair of the Parent Advisory Committee and connects the Tribe, the district, the parents, and the students. Tiara champions educational equity and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in curricula. She is also committed to environmental stewardship, emphasizing the relationship between the Piscataway people and the environment using traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable practices.
