Dawnland Signals

Hosts: Nolan Altvater and Nick Bear
Zoom Recording Technician: Scarlett Tudor
Producer: Esther Anne
Original music: Nick Bear

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform.

This month:
– Wabanaki cultural economic growth through community-based planning.
– Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Initiative and Fellowship Program.
– Rematriation and Land Return.
– Land Claims Settlement Act’s negative impact on Wabanaki economic growth.
– Self-governance and economic growth.

Guests:

Frances Soctomah is the Collaborative Fund Manager for the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship and basket maker who belongs to the Peskotomuhkatiyik – the People Who Spear Pollock. Known in English as the Passamaquoddy. The Wolankeyutomone kisi apaciyewik (“Let us take good care of what is returned” Fund) was created to repair, rebuild, and sustain Wabanaki relationship, kinship, and access to place and to directly help Wabanaki people and institutions to fulfill their care-taking responsibilities for the lands and waters of Maine.
www.dawnlandreturn.org
Socials – @wabanakicommision

Matthew Lewis is the executive Director of Four Directions Development Corporation. Matthew is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik with comprehensive expertise in non-profit sectors and community development financial institutions. Matthew has over a decade of experience working alongside Municipal, State, Tribal, and Federal Governments, administering revolving loan funds and executing community development projects.
fourdirectionsmaine.org/
Socials –  @fourdirectionsmaine

Nick Francis is the Executive Director of the Wabanaki Community Foundation and is a citizen of Penobscot Nation. The Wabanaki Community Foundation (WCF) is an Indigenous-led organization that exists to build intergenerational wealth and vibrant futures for Wabanaki people and communities. This organization helps to invest in people and communities with direct support with the aim of promoting self-determination in the philanthropic sector.
www.wabanakifoundation.org/

Links:
Wabanaki REACH: www.wabanakireach.org/
Dawnland Signals: www.wabanakireach.org/dawnland_signals

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Hosts: Nolan Altvater and Nick Bear
Zoom Recording Technician: Scarlett Tudor
Producer: Esther Anne
Original music: Nick Bear

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform.

This month:
– Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement.
– Beyond the Claims: Stories from the Land and Heart, Wabanaki REACHs truth seeking oral history project.
– Maine Wabanaki-State Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
– Where the River Widens, a community devised play.
– Public access to the Beyond the Claims archives at Bowdoin College.

Guests:
Maria Girouard, Penobscot Nation citizen and Tribal historian who served as Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH and is the visionary behind the Beyond the Claims oral history project.
Kat Stefko – Interim Director of the Bowdoin College Library – former Director of Special Collections and Archives Collections – facilitates access to the TRC and BTC archives library.bowdoin.edu/

Links:
Wabanaki REACH: www.wabanakireach.org/
Dawnland Signals: www.wabanakireach.org/dawnland_signals

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Hosts: Nolan Altvater and Nick Bear
Zoom Recording Technician: Scarlett Tudor
Producer: Esther Anne
Original music by Nick Bear

Join co-hosts Nolan Altvater and Nick Bear as they engage in conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland with special guests. Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform.

This month:
– Lynn Mitchell and Stephanie Bailey journeys into cultural teachings with youth.
– Youth access to cultural teachings, the land, and elders.
– Youth enriching community through cultural responsibilities.

Guests:
Lynn Mitchell.
Stephanie Bailey.

Links:
Wabanaki REACH: www.wabanakireach.org/
Dawnland Signals: www.wabanakireach.org/dawnland_signals

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Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Jeffrey Hotchkiss, Zoom recording technician

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform. Join co-hosts Maria Girouard and Esther Anne as they engage in critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland.

This month:
Join co-hosts Maria Girouard and Esther Anne as they engage in a conversation of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland with special guests. The regular monthly show’s run ended in April 2023.

Dawnland Signals returns to WERU for a special conversation about Beyond the Claims with Wabanaki artists and photographers Nolan Altvater and Maya Attean along with Kate Russell, project coordinator. In this episode, we will learn more about REACH’s oral history truth-telling project and the collaborative effort to bring the upcoming art exhibit – wikhkikonol – to life.

wikhikonol features stories and photos from Wabanakik and opens on the summer solstice at the Sipayik Museum, Passamaquoddy Territory on June 20 at 2:00 PM.

Guests:
Nolan Altvater, Wabanaki artist and photographer.
Maya Tihtiyas Attean, Wabanaki artist and photographer.
Kate Russell, Wabanaki REACH Project Coordinator for Beyond the Claims, Stories from the Land & the Heart

About the hosts:
Esther Anne, is a Passamaquoddy from Sipayik who lives on Indian Island and serves on the Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH, a statewide organization working toward truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland. Maria is a tribal historian with a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine and a special interest in the Maine Indian Land Claims. Maria has devoted years to community organizing, environmental stewardship and activism, and growing food in tribal communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Jeffrey Hotchkiss, Zoom recording technician

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform. Join co-hosts Maria Girouard and Esther Anne as they engage in critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland.

This month:
This month our guests are Norma Saulis, ICWA Director and Tribal Court Administrator for the Mi’kmaq Nation located in Presque Isle, Maine, and Xi Chen, Maine Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Division. They talk with us about the Indian Child Welfare Act, its history and recent news.

– the history and purpose of ICWA
– ICWA’s history and changes in Maine
– ICWA Workgroup
– Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission
– Supreme Court case Brackeen vs. Haaland
– ICWA as the gold standard for child welfare; permanent guardianship and kinship care

Guests:
Norma Saulis, Penobscot/Kiowa/Maliseet/Irish, ICWA Director and Tribal Court Administrator for the Mi’kmaq Nation located in Presque Isle, Maine
Xi Chen, Maine Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection Division

About the hosts:
Esther Anne, is a Passamaquoddy from Sipayik who lives on Indian Island and serves on the Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH, a statewide organization working toward truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland. Maria is a tribal historian with a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine and a special interest in the Maine Indian Land Claims. Maria has devoted years to community organizing, environmental stewardship and activism, and growing food in tribal communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Jeffrey Hotchkiss, Zoom recording technician

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform. Join co-hosts Maria Girouard and Esther Anne as they engage in critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland.

This month:
This month we welcome back Melody Paul, Mi’kmaq, to talk about her new book, Walking the Recovery Road: The Steps Taken, a follow up to her debut book Savaged to Wellness, a Memoir
– the path of recovery
– personal stories
– regional recovery resources
– books authored; readings

Guest/s:
Melody Paul, Mi’kmaq, author

About the hosts:
Esther Anne, is a Passamaquoddy from Sipayik who lives on Indian Island and serves on the Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH, a statewide organization working toward truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland. Maria is a tribal historian with a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine and a special interest in the Maine Indian Land Claims. Maria has devoted years to community organizing, environmental stewardship and activism, and growing food in tribal communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Jeffrey Hotchkiss, Zoom recording technician

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform. Join co-hosts Maria Girouard and Esther Anne as they engage in critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland.

This month:
Our guests this month are Wabanaki REACH Board member Nolan Altvater, Passamaquoddy of Sipayik who serves as Curator of Education for the Abbe Museum, and Julia Gray, Executive Director, Wilson Museum, Castine, and Abbe Museum Trustee. You won’t want to miss this conversation about decolonizing museums and its challenges, transformations, and impact on Wabanaki communities.

Guest/s:
Nolan Altvater, Passamaquoddy of Sipayik who serves as Curator of Education for the Abbe Museum
Julia Gray, Executive Director, Wilson Museum, Castine, and Abbe Museum Trustee

About the hosts:
Esther Anne, is a Passamaquoddy from Sipayik who lives on Indian Island and serves on the Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH, a statewide organization working toward truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland. Maria is a tribal historian with a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine and a special interest in the Maine Indian Land Claims. Maria has devoted years to community organizing, environmental stewardship and activism, and growing food in tribal communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Jeffrey Hotchkiss, Zoom recording technician

Dawnland Signals highlights indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media and is meant to share, inspire, and inform. Join co-hosts Maria Girouard and Esther Anne as they engage in critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland.

This month:
we will hear about the progress of Wabanaki REACH’s new truth-telling initiative: Beyond the Claims – Stories from the Land & the Heart. We welcome as guests Kate Russell, Project Coordinator and Tim Love, Project Contributor.
– What was some of the history behind the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act?
– How did the events around the land claims affect people in Wabanaki communities and beyond?
– What have been some of the learnings in hearing and gathering their stories?
– What are future plans for sharing these learnings?

Guest/s:
Kate Russell, Project Coordinator
Tim Love, Project Contributor.

Link/s FMI:
Wabanaki REACH Truth & Peacemaking

About the hosts:
Esther Anne, is a Passamaquoddy from Sipayik who lives on Indian Island and serves on the Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH, a statewide organization working toward truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland. Maria is a tribal historian with a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine and a special interest in the Maine Indian Land Claims. Maria has devoted years to community organizing, environmental stewardship and activism, and growing food in tribal communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download