Dawnland Signals 6/17/21: Reclamation of Wabanaki culture and language

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: Return to the Teachings 3

Return to the Teachings 3: Reclamation of Wabanaki culture and language

-Natives were legally prohibited from practicing their culture
-There are many ways to preserve and reclaim culture
-The beauty and brilliance of Wabanaki languages

Guest: John Dennis, Miqmaw, Cultural Coordinator and Cultural and Historical Preservation Officer for the Mi’kmaq Nation.

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 Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 5/20/21 Wabanaki Authors: Storytelling and Writing from a Wabanaki Worldview

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: Wabanaki Authors- Storytelling and writing from a Wabanaki worldview

-Authentic Wabanaki representation is important
-Wabanaki have so much to be proud of
-Traditional stories can help us understand and provide guidance about the world today

Guests:
Morgan Talty, Penobscot, Associate Professor of English at Husson University, author of the book “Night of the Living Rez”; and Suzanne Greenlaw, Maliseet artist and PhD student and Gabe Frey, Passamaquoddy artist and master basketmaker authors of the children’s book “The First Blade of Sweetgrass”

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 Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 4/15/21: Maine’s efforts to fully comply with the ICWA

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland

Honoring the Indian Child Welfare Act: Maine’s efforts to fully comply with the ICWA

-Truth Commission’s third recommendation for Maine to improve staff ICWA training
-The importance of educating about the history that led to the ICWA
-What citizens can do to support the ICWA

Guests:
Norma Saulis, Penobscot, ICWA Coordinator for Aroostook Band of Micmacs; Martha Proulx, Maine Office of Child and Family Services and ICWA Liaison; Xi Chen, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Maine Attorney General.

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 Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 3/18/21: Return to the Teachings 2, Wabanaki traditions

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: Return to the Teachings 2, Wabanaki traditions

-Memories of Passamaquoddy ceremonies and rituals
-The importance of language reclamation and revitalization
-Stories of my Grandmother – a new bi-lingual book

Guest: Wayne Newell, PhD, Passamaquoddy elder, activist, and scholar from Indian Township

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 Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 2/18/21: Community Theater

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

How did you get involved in Community theater?
Can you share a favorite theater experience?
What is the most valuable aspect of Community Theater for you?

Guests:
Carol Dana, Penobscot elder and language master; Margo Lukens, professor of English at UMO; Heather Augustine, Micmac, Wabanaki REACH Community Organizer.

About the hosts:

Esther Anne, Passamaquoddy from Sipayik, joined the Muskie School of Public Service in 2003 where she works on projects that engage and benefit tribal communities including facilitating the Maine tribal-state Indian Child Welfare Act workgroup and creating child welfare resources with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. She had a primary role in the creation and establishment of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Maine-Wabanaki REACH. Esther now serves as secretary for the REACH Board of Directors and on the REACH Communications Committee. Esther lives on Indian Island and her family includes adult children and a grandbaby.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 1/21/21: Return to the Teachings

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

-Wabanaki core cultural values are alive and being practiced
-The importance of teaching Wabanaki children cultural values and ways of being
-Teachings and practices around birth, coming of age, elder hood, and death

Guest: Dr. Imelda Perley Opolahsomuwehs, Maliseet First Nation, University of New Brunswick.

About the hosts:

Esther Anne, Passamaquoddy from Sipayik, joined the Muskie School of Public Service in 2003 where she works on projects that engage and benefit tribal communities including facilitating the Maine tribal-state Indian Child Welfare Act workgroup and creating child welfare resources with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. She had a primary role in the creation and establishment of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Maine-Wabanaki REACH. Esther now serves as secretary for the REACH Board of Directors and on the REACH Communications Committee. Esther lives on Indian Island and her family includes adult children and a grandbaby.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 12/17/20: The Power of Song

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Production assistance: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: The Power of Song

-Can you tell us about how you started singing?
-What is your most special singing memory?
-What is your advice to parents who want to teach their children the power of song?

Guests: Sarah Dewitt, Micmac, Suzie Lewey, Passamaquoddy, and Julie Miller, Micmac – members of Mawitan’ej E’pitjig; and Dwayne Tomah, Passamaquoddy language teacher.

About the hosts:

Esther Anne, Passamaquoddy from Sipayik, joined the Muskie School of Public Service in 2003 where she works on projects that engage and benefit tribal communities including facilitating the Maine tribal-state Indian Child Welfare Act workgroup and creating child welfare resources with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. She had a primary role in the creation and establishment of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Maine-Wabanaki REACH. Esther now serves as secretary for the REACH Board of Directors and on the REACH Communications Committee. Esther lives on Indian Island and her family includes adult children and a grandbaby.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Maine-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.

s

Dawnland Signals 11/19/20: Land Acknowledgments

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Production assistance: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland

Land Acknowledgments
-The origin of the new found interest in land acknowledgements
-Different types of land acknowledgments
-Appropriate ways to do a land acknowledgement

Guests: Dr. Darren Ranco, Penobscot, Chair Native American Programs, UMaine; Diane Oltarzewski, Belfast resident, Maine-Wabanaki REACH Board.

About the hosts:

Esther Anne, Passamaquoddy from Sipayik, joined the Muskie School of Public Service in 2003 where she works on projects that engage and benefit tribal communities including facilitating the Maine tribal-state Indian Child Welfare Act workgroup and creating child welfare resources with the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. She had a primary role in the creation and establishment of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Maine-Wabanaki REACH. Esther now serves as secretary for the REACH Board of Directors and on the REACH Communications Committee. Esther lives on Indian Island and her family includes adult children and a grandbaby.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Maine-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.

s