Archives for Specials

WERU Special 10/7/24 Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink

Host: Matt Murphy

The Maine Monitor and WERU will host Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink filmmaker Rick Goldsmith for a three-day program in Maine, October 8-10. This program is a radio preview of the film, with Matt Murphy hosting Goldsmith and Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Executive Director Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm.

Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink is the story of one secretive hedge fund that is plundering America’s newspapers and the journalists who are fighting back. Who will control the future of America’s news ecosystem: Wall Street billionaires concerned only with profit, or those who see journalism as an essential public service and the lifeblood of our democracy?

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Dawnland Signals 3/17/22: Healing to Wellness Court: A model for restorative justice

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

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: Justice and Healing

Healing to Wellness Court: A model for restorative justice
-How did the concept for a healing to wellness court come to be?
-What experiences can you share?
-Throughout this process, what feels most significant?
-What’s next?

Guests: Penobscot Tribal Nation Court: Magistrate Judge Rhonda DeContie (Penobscot/Algonquin), and Chief Judge Eric Mehnert

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.

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WERU Special: A Conversation About the State of Civil Rights in Maine Broadcast date: 2/16/22

Producer/Host: Linda Washburn

NOTE: This program will be broadcast on 2/16/22 at 4pm. We are making it available on the archives prior to the air date in honor of Black History Month.

This panel discussion was co-hosted by the Greater Bangor Area Branch of the NAACP and the University of Maine Alumni Association (UMAA) as part of eastern and central Maine’s 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration January 17, 2022. The entire event was streamed live on YouTube and is available in the UMAA YouTube archive. Our thanks to the University for making this recording available to WERU listeners. Aysha Vear, Associate Director of Marketing and Engagement, UMAA, managed the UMAA YouTube stream of the event; downloaded the video file and sent audio file to LW to edit the panel discussion for WERU broadcast.

Some of the topics covered include:
-civil rights
-social justice
-legal efforts to ‘right’, the ‘wrongs’ of history
-“owning” our history
-education opportunities for Maine students to learn about marginalized people and cultures in Maine
-Do you think our actions in-between Martin Luther King Jr.’s MLK Birthday Celebrations would meet his expectations?
-direction on how to ensure civil rights for all people through community engagement

Moderator:
John N. Diamond, President of the UMAA

Panelists:
Maulian Dana,Tribal Ambassador, Penobscot Nation
Richard Evans (MD), Maine State Representative
David Patrick, Racial Equity and Justice Educator
Rachel Talbot Ross, Assistant Majority Leader, Maine House of Representatives

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Dawnland Signals 1/20/22: The Road to Recovery

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

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: The Road to Recovery

-How each guest started their recovery journey
-Advice to people who want to quit substances
-Advice to family members who are supporting someone in recovery

Guests:
Brian Altvater Sr., Passamaquoddy and Melody Paul, Micmac

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.

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Dawnland Signals 12/16/21: The Power of Poetry

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

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

-How each guest came to be writers of poetry
-How poetry can be used to build community
-Guests and hosts recite poems

Guests: Mihku Paul, Maliseet and Penthea Burns, Wabanaki REACH Board Co chair

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.

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Dawnland Signals SPECIAL 11/25/21: If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving

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

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving— New children’s book teaches the truth

-How the author came to write this book
-Resources for teaching truth about history
-The importance of teaching from an indigenous worldview

Guest: Chris Newell, Passamaquoddy from Motahkmihkuk, author and Co-founder/Director of Education for Akomawt Educational Initiative

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