May 04, 2026

“We’re here to keep stories.” – Joy Harjo, on the purpose of our lives Maria Girouard (Penobscot, former Wabanaki REACH director) understands the power of story. While organizing for the Maine-Wabanki Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), she witnessed how systems—like child welfare—require...

March 02, 2026

Mac is a 25-year-old artist living in Maine, with roots that stretch across the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Chickasaw nations. Growing up in many places, but always carrying her culture with her, she found her way back to her community after more than a decade away,...

February 05, 2026

This piece is part of a series called Downeast, which chronicles my initial experiences sailing in Downeast Maine. When I first arrived in Maine in 1996 seeking reclamation, I was a single mother embarking on a new chapter as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer with...