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
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
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
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
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)
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)
Nov. 27, 2014 - Isaiah Miller of Bangor, Opinion Letter, Bangor Daily News
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)
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
June 11, 2014 - Nell Gluckman, Bangor Daily News
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
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