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Black Lives Matter

The Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors unambiguously calls for the end of violence against Black people and we release this statement in support of the truth, healing, and change that is unfolding. In solidarity, Penthea, Alivia, Elise, Denise, Esther, Diane, and Tyler-Ann.

Click here for the REACH Board Statement: Black Lives Matter

 

March 4th, 2021- Esther Anne & Penthea Burns, Columbia Journal of Race and Law

Truth, Healing, and Change in the Dawnland

 

January 29, 2021 – Barbara Will and Charlotte Bacon, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Opinion: Making history matter in divided times

 

December 2nd, 2020 - Maine Initiatives

Racial Justice and Decarceration with Maria Girouard

 

November 2nd, 2020 - Valerie Vande Panne, NextCity

What Truth and Reconciliation looks like in Practice

 

November 5th, 2020 - Native News Online

Reflecting on the Maine-Wabanaki Child Welfare TRC 5 Years Later

 

October 11, 2020 - Michael Martin, NPR

Healing US divides through Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

 

June 19th, 2019 – Jasmeen Wafai, Yes! Magazine

Is it time for Truth and Reconciliation in the US?

 

May 14, 2019 – Rebecca Goldfine, Bowdoin News 

Parts of Campus bring light to Wabanaki History

 

January 28, 2019 – Alex Lear, The Forecaster

‘It is who we are’: Freeport woman reflects on ‘stolen’ Native American children in new film

 

December 10, 2018 – Emily Coyne, Maine Campus

Diversity Committee explores Maine-Wabanaki relations

 

November 7, 2018 – Abaki Beck, Yes! Magazine

Telling the Truth as a Means of Healing

 

November 6, 2018 – Katherine Locke, Navajo-Hopi Observer

'Dawnland' documents untold story of Native American child removal in the U.S.

 

November 5, 2018 – Robin Young, WBUR

'Dawnland' Documents Maine's Efforts To Reconcile Indian Child Removal

 

November 5, 2018 – Sameer Rao, Color Lines

Wabanaki Seek Healing and Justice in 'Dawnland'

 

April 9th, 2018 - Peri Wallent, The Occidental 

REACH Representatives Discuss Wabanaki Visibility and Advocacy

 

November 21, 2016 – Zenobia Jeffries Warfield, Yes! Magazine

How to Attempt Racial Healing—Even During a Trump Presidency

 

November 13th, 2016 - Zenobia Jeffries Warfield, Yes! Magazine

White People, Its the Bigots where you live that Need you the Most

 

April 14, 2016 – Walter Wuthmann, The Forecaster

'Cultural genocide’: Wabanaki commission’s findings preserved in Brunswick

 

May 5, 2016 - Beth Murphy, Huffington Post

Answering a Mother's Prayer this Mother's Day

 

April 13, 2016 - Walter Wuthmann, The Forecaster

'Cultural genocide': Wabanaki commission's findings preserved in Brunswick

 

April 13, 2016 - Yessenia Funes, YES! Magazine

Finally, the U.S. Steps Closer to Racial Healing With a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission

 

March 29, 2016  - Rebecca Goldfine, Bowdoin College

Opening of the Archives: Wabanaki Truth and Reconciliation Commission

 

Jan. 27, 2016 - Genevieve Beck-Roe, American Friends Service Committee Acting in Faith blog

The Maine Wabanaki-State TRC: Healing from historic trauma to create a better future

 

Dec. 4, 2015 - Cultural Survival Quarter Issue 39-4, Tradition Informing Our Futures (December 2015)

Truth and Reconciliation: The Findings on Wabanaki Child Welfare in the State of Maine

 

Oct. 12, 2015 - Suzette Brewer, Indian Country Today Media Network

Truth and Reconciliation: The Findings on Wabanaki Child Welfare in the State of Maine

 

Oct. 12, 2015 - Phillip Martin, WGBH News

New Film Documents Maine's Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission

 

July 7, 2015 - Virginia M. Wright, Down East Magazine, July 2015 edition

Shattered ' Wabanaki People ' Child Welfare System

 

June 29, 2015 - Mark Kelley, Special to the Bangor Daily News (Opinion)

Maine owes Wabanaki people sovereignty, respect. It's long overdue

 

June 26, 2015 - Edward French, The Quoddy Tides

TRC report asserts cultural genocide practiced in Maine

 

June 25, 2015 - Lorie Graham and Kathryn E. Fort, The Hill - Congress Blog - Civil Rights

If truth be told

 

June 25, 2015 - Gale Courey Toensing, Indian Country Today Media Network

Forced Removal of Native American Children From Parents Exposed in 13 Minutes

 

June 19, 2015 - Tim Fontaine, CBC News

Maine's Truth and Reconciliation Commission finds 'evidence of cultural genocide'

 

June 18, 2015 - Joseph Hall, Special to the Bangor Daily News (Opinion)

My Father's Day request for LePage: Support for Wabanaki families

 

June 18, 2015 - Special to The Ellsworth American

Wabanaki Truth Commission issues final report

 

June 17, 2015 - Keith Shortall, MPBN Maine Calling, with interviews with Charlotte Bacon, Esther Attean, and Matt Dunlap.

Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission

 

June 14, 2015 - Kaitlyn Chana, WLBZ2 and WCHS6

Closing ceremony for Maine Native Americans

 

June 14, 2015 - Brenna Kelly, WABI TV5

Commission's Results Bring Positive Change in Child Welfare

 

June 14, 2015 - Nick Sambides, Jr., Bangor Daily News

Native Americans' report reveals history of 'cultural genocide' in Maine

 

June 14, 2015 - gkisedtanamoogk and Carol Wishcamper, Opinion, Portland Press Herald

Maine Voices: Study gauges harm to Native children - A report to be released Sunday concludes that a form of 'cultural genocide' took place in Maine

 

June 2, 2015 - Charles Eichacker, Ellsworth American

Ellsworth group soon to release 'truth and reconciliation' report about Maine and its tribes

 

May 19, 2015 - Producer/Host Donna Loring, WERU 89.9 FM Community Radio

"Findings of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission" with Commissioner Carol Wishcamper and Maine-Wabanaki REACH's Maria Girouard

 

May 1, 2015 - Marcelle Hopkins, Al Jazeera America

'Without our children, what are we'' Maine cited for removing Native kids

 

May 1, 2015 - Dawn Gagnon, Bangor Daily News

Group calls on LePage to reinstate tribal executive order

 

May 1, 2015 - Katharine Bavoso, WLBZ2, Bangor and WCHS6, Portland

Maine Native Americans share stories of children taken away

 

May 1, 2015 - Patrick Thomas, ABC 7/FOX 22, Bangor

Wabanaki REACH Leaders want child welfare reform

 

April 30, 2015 - Terry Stackhouse, WABI TV5, Bangor

Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Reconciliation Commission Shares Investigation Findings

 

April 30, 2015 - Community section

Truth, reconciliation group to host 5 forums

 

April 29, 2015 - Susan Sharon, MPBN News

Panel to Share Findings on Removal of Native Children from Homes

 

April 28, 2015 - The Pulse AM 620 Morning Show with Don Cookson

REACH Community Organizer Barbara Kates and REACH ally Shawn Yardley discuss the TRC and Bangor forum, "The Mandate and Beyond"

 

April 23, 2015 - Kathryn Olmstead, Special to the Bangor Daily News

Aroostook County residents work to ally with Wabanaki people

 

Jan. 29, 2015 - Amy Browne, Host/Producer, WERU FM 89.9 (audio)

Segment 2 at 22:37: Keynote speech from the annual MLK Day Breakfast at UMaine featuring Maine-Wabanaki REACH's Esther Attean and Denise Altvater on "Truth, Healing and Change: Maine-Wabanaki Reconciliation."

 

Jan. 26, 2015 - Dr. Anne Hallward, Safe Space Radio (audio)

Wabanaki History in Maine with Esther Attean and Maria Girouard

 

Jan. 23, 2015 - Margy Dowzer, Special to the Portland Press Herald

Maine Voices: King's words point to need to address harms to Native Americans

 

Jan. 19, 2015 - Bryan Shawver, FOX Bangor/ABC 7 News TV (video)

Wabanaki Reconciliation Topic of MLK Jr. Breakfast

 

Jan. 19, 2015 - Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News

Maine tribes remember Martin Luther King Jr. as an advocate for all oppressed voices

 

Dec. 16, 2014 - Hannah Dunphy, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)

Shadows in Dawnland

 

Nov. 27, 2014 - Isaiah Miller of Bangor, Opinion Letter, Bangor Daily News

First Thanksgiving

 

Nov. 24, 2014 - Chris Hayden, Seacoastonline.com

Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission and Maine-Wabanaki REACH

 

Nov. 21, 2014 - Danielle Waugh, WCHS6 (Video)

Advocates discuss Maine links to genocide

 

Nov. 20, 2014 - Kathryn Olmstead, Bangor Daily News

All eyes on Maine as group seeks to make amends for injustices to Indian children

 

Nov. 17, 2014 - MPBN, "Maine Calling" with Keith Shorthall (Audio: 51:05)

Interview with Maine-Wabanaki REACH's Esther Attean, TRC Executive Director Charlotte Bacon and Commissioner Matt Dunlap, and Tom Andrews of United to End Genocide

 

Nov. 16, 2014 - Deborah McDermott, Seacoast Online

Generational Trauma: Healing for Maine's Native Americans

 

Oct. 13, 2014 - WZON The Pulse

Interview with TRC Commissioner Matt Dunlap on Indigenous Peoples Day

 

Oct. 1, 2014 - Dave Sargent, Special to the Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal

Wabanaki-state child welfare panel says truth sought for tribal members

 

June 26, 2014 - Nell Gluckman, Bangor Daily News

Maine outreach groups to educate, learn stories of incarcerated Native Americans

 

June 17, 2014 - Community Radio WERU-FM 89.9 Blue Hill, 99.9 Bangor

Maria Girouard joins Wabanaki Windows host Donna Loring to talk about Tribal-State history, attempts toward healing and her role with REACH

 

June 11, 2014 - Nell Gluckman, Bangor Daily News

Truth and Reconciliation Commission broadens effort to expose decades of Wabanaki children being put in state care

 

June 9, 2014 - Nell Gluckman, Bangor Daily News

Panelists talk with Maine tribes about trauma of foster care, separation from families

 

March 20, 2014 - Ellen W. Todd, Sanford News

REACH coalition's Arla Patch addressing historical society tonight

 

March 3, 2014 - International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)

Maine's Indigenous Truth Commission Marks First Year

 

Feb. 10, 2014 - Jenni Parmalee, Member Story, Knox Village Soup

Join in Days of Reflection, Prayer and Meditation for truth and reconciliation, Feb. 10, 18 and 19

 

Jan. 20, 2014 - Matthew Daigle, Sun Journal

Maine artist speaks to Gould students on MLK and other renowned 'truth-tellers'

 

Jan. 13, 2014 - Arla Patch and Robert Shetterly, Indian Country Today Media Network

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Tells A Story of Forgiveness

 

Jan. 3, 2014 - Arla Patch, Special to the Bangor Daily News

Fostering forgiveness: After Indian 'takings,' both victims and perpetrators need healing

 

Dec. 22, 2013 - Arla Patch and Robert Shetterly, Columns & Analysis, Sun Journal

A story of forgiveness, a moment of grace

 

Dec. 4, 2013 - Mario Moretto, Bangor Daily News

Portrait artist Robert Shetterly adds Wabanaki activists to famed 'Americans Who Tell The Truth' series

 

Dec. 4, 2013 - Morning Sentinel (Waterville)

Paintings of Passamaquoddy women to be unveiled in Maine

 

Dec. 3, 2013 - Gale Courey Toensing, Indian Country Today Media Network

Molly Ockett Days Festival Beginning to Truly Honor Native Namesake includes how REACH's Arla Patch helped transform the annual event in Bethel. Article also has photos and a video of the event.

 

Nov. 27, 2013 - The Times Record

Bowdoin forum eyes Wabanaki treatment (limited view, subscription-based website)

 

Nov. 27, 2013 - The Castine Patriot

Shetterly to speak, display portrait in Castine

 

Nov. 20, 2013 - Kathleen Shannon, WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2 News
Kathleen Shannon speaks with TRC Commissioners gkisedtanamoogk and Carol Wishcamper, as well as Debbie Yarmal, who is testifying for the TRC, as Truth and Reconciliation Commission begins hearings on Indian child welfare at Sipayik (Pleasant Point)

 

Nov. 20, 2013 - WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2 News

Photos from the Opening Ceremony for the Truth & Reconciliation Commission

 

Nov. 15, 2013 - Kathleen Shannon, WCSH 6 207

Kathleen Shannon interviews REACH Co-Director Esther Attean and TRC Commissioner Carol Wishcamper about the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission

 

Nov. 10, 2013 - Tim Cox, Bangor Daily News

Wabanaki Truth and Reconciliation commissioners set first visit to tribe, includes an interview with REACH Co-Director Esther Attean

 

Oct. 28, 2013 - Sandy White Hawk, Indian Country Today Media Network
Baby Veronica & Our Stolen Children: 'Someday, They'll Come Back,' by TRC Commissioner Sandy White Hawk

 

Sept. 28, 2013 - Edward French, The Quoddy Tides
Truth, reconciliation commission makes first visit at Sipayik, includes quotes from REACH's Esther Attean, Denise Altvater and several Commissioners

 

Sept. 2, 2013 - Walter R. Echo-Hawk, Special to the Bangor Daily News
A chance for Maine to lead on indigenous human rights

 

July 30, 2013 - Gale Courey Toensing, Indian Country Today Media Network
Healing 'Already Happening' in Wabanaki Truth & Reconciliation Process, includes an interview with REACH Co-Director Esther Attean

 

Feb. 12, 2013 - Joy Hollowell, WABI TV5 (Video)
Truth and Reconciliation ' Part Two, features REACH Co-Director Esther Attean discussing the history that led up to the creation of the TRC

 

Feb. 11, 2013 - Joy Hollowell, WABI TV5 (Video)
Truth and Reconciliation ' Part One, filmed at Wabanaki Health and Wellness and includes an interview with youth volunteer Tyneshia W.

 

Dec. 6, 2012 - Tim Fontaine, APTN National News (Video)
U.S. tribe looks to TRC for healing

 

Nov. 20, 2012 - Anna Bressanin, BBC World News (Video)
Native Americans recall era of forced adoptions, features interviews with REACH's Denise Altvater

 

Nov. 16, 2012 - Kathleeen Shannon, WCHS 6 Portland (Video)
Taken: Part 3 ' Maine addresses native child welfare issues, provides an in-depth interview with REACH's Denise Altvater and her experiences with child welfare

 

Nov. 15, 2012 - Kathleeen Shannon, WCHS 6 Portland (Video)
Taken: Part 2 ' Maine addresses native child welfare issues, includes interviews with Martha Proulx and Theresa Dube of Maine OCFS and Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis

 

Nov. 14, 2012 - Kathleeen Shannon, WCHS 6 Portland (Video)
Taken: Part 1 ' Maine addresses native child welfare issues, provides an in-depth interview with REACH\'s Denise Altvater about her experiences with child welfare

 

Sept. 6, 2012 - Paul Frost, Special to the Bangor Daily News
To heal we must learn: a mandate for Wabanaki child welfare, an editorial by "Portagers" member Paul Frost

 

Aug. 20, 2012 - Producer/Host Donna Loring, WERU 89.9 FM Community Radio (Audio)
Wabanaki Windows: Update of TRC project and International implications, includes interviews with REACH Co-Director Esther Attean and University of St. Andrews ' Scotland Research Assistant Bennett Collins

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