Blog: Voices of Decolonization

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...

This summer, I was able to participate in the project “Restoring Tribal Relations and Forests Knowledge” through my role as a documentarian for the Wabanaki Communities. This project, a collaboration between the Akwesasne Environmental...

Through my journey of decolonization, I continue to learn about Wabanaki history, traditions, cultural activities, and ceremonies and have experienced a positive shift in my perspective and approach to life through participation and learning....

At the seating ceremony for the Maine Wabanaki-State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Reverend Robert Grove-Markwood offered this prayer: “May we find love at the heart of the truth that is found... May the truth...

Throw away this worn out mapWe’ll chart a new courseTrue to our bearings in this life-worldOur burden-treasures from how we were raisedTaughtSeen They are our super powersThey gather in our hands nowCourse in our...

Traditionally, the strawberry ceremony is for girls after their first menstrual cycle. However, today it is offered to folks who identify as two spirit and to those who didn’t have the opportunity to participate...

by Esther Anne, Policy Associate II, Catherine Cutler Institute, University of Southern Maine and REACH volunteer and Amanda Hollander, Training Specialist, Office of Child and Family Services State of Maine, and REACH volunteer.  ...