Blog: Voices of Decolonization
Items of Refuse, by Heather Newton Brown
December 04, 2025
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...
Read More ShareMi'kmaq Prayer
November 06, 2025
“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...
Read More ShareIndigenous People’s Day - by Barbara Kates (first published in October 2017)
October 10, 2025
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...
Read More ShareMy Moon Lodge ~ My Sanctuary, by Jillian Kerr
October 02, 2025
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...
Read More Share(Re)kindling Embers – A Wabanaki Youth in Science Trip to Akwesasne, by Nolan Altvater
September 04, 2025
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...
Read More ShareCulture in Healing and Wellness, by Jillian Kerr
August 07, 2025
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....
Read More ShareCelebrating the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission & Committing to Ongoing Truth-Seeking, by REACH Staff
July 03, 2025
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...
Read More ShareBearings, by Penthea Burns
June 05, 2025
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...
Read More ShareRites of Passage: The Strawberry Ceremony, by Jillian Kerr
May 01, 2025
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...
Read More ShareHow Interacting with Wabanaki Maine History Helps Families in Maine
April 03, 2025
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. ...
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