First Persons: The Wabanaki Peoples of Maine Webinar

As has been the case for Native Americans most everywhere, for centuries Maine’s original inhabitants have maintained their Tribal Nations as well as resisted and struggled against powerful political and social forces for the rights, opportunities, and protections legally retained by them as indigenous people and promised to them in treaties. While minor progress has been achieved in some areas—most recently, the establishment in Maine of Indigenous Peoples Day and the elimination of Native names and imagery as mascots—many issues and tensions remain, especially as they relate to tribal sovereignty. Discourse continues in Augusta and throughout the state, in many instances led by Native Americans with strong UMaine ties. “First Persons: The Wabanaki Peoples of Maine” featured a panel of representatives of Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe. Each shared her perspective on the history of the region’s original inhabitants as well as the public policy, social, and cultural issues that Native Americans continue to address. The presentation featured the following panelists: Maulian Dana ’06 Sherri Mitchell ’08 Bridgid Neptune Donna Loring ’86 moderated the discussion.