Blog: Voices of Decolonization

As recently as 400 years ago, Wabanaki people would routinely canoe roughly 9 miles down what is now called the Goose River from their fields and forests along its banks to its estuary, joining...

In November of 2024, I went out on the river so Jan could show me the “headwaters of the Stillwater River.” The name is a joke. The joke, for those who are unaware, is...

“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...

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...

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...

Doing good work in tribal communities takes on many complexities. A couple years back Wabanaki REACH co-hosted a convening of grantees, organizations receiving grant funds for their work intended to benefit Wabanaki communities. The...

My series, "Items of Refuse" is an exploration of the tension between reclaiming and creating beauty from discarded objects and identity. I gather items considered "throw away," pairing them with phrases commonly used to...

“Creator, open our hearts to peace and healing between all people. Creator, open our hearts to provide and protect for all children of the earth. Creator, open our hearts to respect for the earth, and all...

Across the country, individuals, organizations, and governments are recognizing the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  It is a change intended to honor Native Americans instead of honoring Christopher Columbus for all...

Moon lodges are a part of the Strawberry Ceremony, a rite of passage for Wabanaki women. The Wabanaki calendar consists of 13 moons, with each moon corresponding to a full moon cycle of twenty-eight...