4 10 37 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/c75d97d15bf163efd83340f47a5f78f7.pdf 580ca3b78d8ee94caa26c4d75f425637 PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Maine Indian Newsletter (May 1969) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ssipsis (Thompson, Eugenia) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Bowdoin College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1969-05 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Siobhan Senier Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Digital images courtesy of Bowdoin College Library. In making these images available, we also consulted with ssipsis’ daughter, Pam Outdusis Cunningham. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Date Created Date of creation of the resource. June 3, 2016 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-369 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/39be5dd84602c9fd9f577e5bd2559052.pdf 068a3f1bda79fdd0af9f2a3a22fc9249 PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Maine Indian Newsletter (April 1969) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ssipsis (Thompson, Eugenia) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Bowdoin College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1969-04 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Siobhan Senier Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Digital images courtesy of Bowdoin College Library. In making these images available, we also consulted with ssipsis’ daughter, Pam Outdusis Cunningham. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Date Created Date of creation of the resource. June 3, 2016 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-368 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/fa189324cc2fa0ef3e1254b34e1e2dba.pdf 70dfebf3001f0ccee56e33c85bc0fcb4 PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Maine Indian Newsletter (Nov. 1968) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ssipsis (Thompson, Eugenia) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Bowdoin College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-11 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Siobhan Senier Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Digital images courtesy of Bowdoin College Library. In making these images available, we also consulted with ssipsis’ daughter, Pam Outdusis Cunningham. Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Date Created Date of creation of the resource. June 3, 2016 Language A language of the resource English Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-367 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/7ba580cdd12fa5d55b2b95e773a4f58c.pdf 85095b759e09f91e84586c1f871807fa PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Maine Indian Newsletter (Sept-Oct 1968) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ssipsis (Thompson, Eugenia) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968 09-10 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Siobhan Senier Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Date Created Date of creation of the resource. June 3, 2016 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Bowdoin College Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Digital images courtesy of Bowdoin College Library. In making these images available, we also consulted with ssipsis’ daughter, Pam Outdusis Cunningham. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-366 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/876e58e5fbec5a4ac7b9b3cc5ea38066.pdf c8d2684260fdaa41d39d0ec575b5012f PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Maine Indian Newsletter (June 1969) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ssipsis (Thompson, Eugenia) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Bowdoin College Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1969-06 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Siobhan Senier Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Digital images courtesy of Bowdoin College Library. In making these images available, we also consulted with ssipsis’ daughter, Pam Outdusis Cunningham. Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Date Created Date of creation of the resource. June 3, 2016 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-365 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/2996430e76fecca0aa12c6e4b7a48dcd.pdf 984455e5d44e2375a6b27a785aa332c8 PDF Text Text MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR NINE KILLED IN CHARLESTON SC DONNA LORING 6/22/2015 I am Donna Loring, Penobscot Nation Tribal Elder. Thank you Rachel Talbot Ross for inviting me to speak here today. Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Indian Nation sends his heartfelt condolences to the nine families of the murdered victims and to the Black Communities all over this country. The Chief is conducting a ceremony for our Veterans at this moment. I often wonder why we fought in so many wars, answer is we fought to end racism and hatred. We fought for freedom, freedom to live without fear, to worship without being molested or murdered. The sad truth is that none of these wars brought us those rights. We continue to face genocide and extermination by the taking of our children, the jailing of our people and by the continued senseless killing of our people. Yes, Black lives matter, Brown lives matter! A white male who was educated and steeped in hatred murdered nine members of our extended family. He committed a senseless violent hate filled act. Not once, but Nine times. He said he wanted to start a race war. I have news for him the race war started in 1492! I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this and the deep hatred that he must have had in order to be with these kind and caring people, for a whole hour, in a house of worship, and then to kill them as if they were less than human and their lives insignificant. That mind set must have taken an extensive education in hatred and white supremacy. I am going to say some things that people will not like but I don't care. I want to make a point and that is This “The gun” did not commit these murders.... Let me repeat that. "The gun" did not commit these murders! "The gun" was not the cause. The cause and the core of these murders and other murders and genocides that have occurred in this country can be traced to one thing and one thing only. RACISM and that is not an Indian problem that is not a Black problem that is not an Asian problem or Latina Problem that is an AMERICAN PROBLEM and the conversations across this country must address this Problem. �Loring speech cont. We must not take the focus off racism by arguing gun control, or the meaning of a flag or the use of the N word. It seems that every kind of issue comes up to be taken apart and talked about except the real issue of RACISM. These many issues are not going to change anything just distract us from the real problem. We have some great minds in this Country and yes even here in Maine. We must focus our attention and our resources on addressing this age old American Problem. We live in a different even more dangerous world today for people of color. We cannot go on with business as usual. Lets stand United together, The Wabanaki Tribes of this State and the Communities of Color. Lets stand together against the terrible enemy Racism. Lets seriously focus and find ways to fight it. The actress Anna Deavere Smith once said: “Racism has been for everyone like a horrible, tragic car crash, and we've all been heavily sedated from it. If we don't come into consciousness of this tragedy, there's going to be a violent awakening we don't want. The question is, can we wake up? Again the Penobscot Nation sends its deepest condolences to the families of the nine Black people murdered in Charleston our hearts are heavy and we mourn with you. We leave you with a WAKE UP CALL. WAKE UP AND LET US UNITE AND PUT OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TOGETHER TO WORK TOWARDS A WORLD WITHOUT RACIAL HATRED. � https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/5c43ee254531d7117d37780dc462d51f.pdf cceb0fb222bee66838dd09b2b01a3caf PDF Text Text RACHEL TALBOT ROSS A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR EQUAL JUSTICE By Donna M Loring I have read a number of very negative articles in the Portland Press Herald about Rachel Talbot Ross placing her twenty-‐one year service to the City in a negative light. Rachel Talbot Ross and her work with the City for twenty-‐one years will not and should not be defined by those articles. I am Donna Loring, a Penobscot Nation Tribal Elder and former Tribal Representative to the Maine State Legislature. I served representing the Penobscot Nation for over a decade. I am a Vietnam Veteran. I fought fiercely for my Country and for our people and their rights. Although I am not a resident of Portland I am no stranger to the city. I have worked at the University of Southern Maine as the Acting Director of Multicultural and Native American Affairs. I have served in the Legislature with both former and present Mayors and the President of the University of Southern Maine I spend lots of time in Portland going to meetings and visiting friends. Rachel is a ninth generation Mainer. She comes from a family that has been on the front lines of the Civil Rights movement. As many of you know she is running for the Portland District 40 seat in the Maine State Legislature. Rachel has extensive experience as an advocate and knows multicultural issues from the inside. She was the Multicultural and Equal Opportunity Officer for the city for twenty- one years. She is the President of the Portland Branch of the NAACP and the Founding President of Maine Freedom Trails. I first meant Rachel while she was meeting with Students at Bowdoin College to established an African American, Latino, Asian, Native American Student organization (ALANA) she had all ready established one at USM and was working to create branches at Bowdoin and Bates. Today she is still mentoring Students of Color. She established the Martin Luther King Jr. Fellows, a leadership development group for High School Students. They are an impressive very active group of Students who are working to educate the public about black history and civil rights. She also worked to establish the Maine Freedom Trails, which has permanent walking trails in Portland, Malaga Island and throughout the State. She has worked tirelessly to educate the public on civil rights and equal justice. She's put many hours of work every year into planning, directing and hosting the Martin Luther King events in Portland. The most famous event is known as the Martin Luther King Breakfast (recently changed to Dinner.) the largest gathering of Maine Leaders both political and Social in the State. You all know her advocacy work. As a matter of full disclosure when I first formed my non- profit, seven eagles I asked Rachel to be on the board and she graciously agreed. I have worked with Rachel on various issues over the years, whenever I needed help to magnify or leverage Tribal issues Rachel was always there lending her voice. She has helped organize panels and �public discussions on racism and justice issues. She has been an untiring advocate for public housing, equal employment and people of color. She has spoken out about the unfair treatment of Prisoners of Color inclusive of Native Prisoners and continues to be instrumental in getting them fair treatment. Equal Justice and Civil rights has been a full time job in Maine. Governor LePage took issue with the NAACP two weeks after he was sworn in as Governor telling the NAACP to kiss butt. Rachel's response to that comment was dignified and well spoken "Our kids deserve better, Maine deserves better..." Sadly, recently, racism raised its ugly head in a very public way in the Maine State Senate. Rachel stood up and held the Maine State Senate accountable. No one else did that, not even the other Senators... Rachel's work and legacy is a strong testament as to who she is and what she stands for. She speaks truth to power. If nothing else she has earned her place of respect and honor in the annals of Maine history. I for one am proud to know her and call her friend. I can promise you this that if you choose to elect her as your representative she will be an aggressive advocate for your issues. She WILL get the job Done! � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Writings on Civil Rights" (2015-16) by Donna Loring Description An account of the resource In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, many indigenous intellectuals lent their voices to the cause of racial justice and equity. Donna Loring--a Penobscot tribal leader, author, and Vietnam veteran--exemplifies the commitment to cross-racial solidarity and social justice activism. She presented the "Memorial for 9 Killed in Charleston, South Carolina" at a service in Portland, ME, commemorating the victims of the massacre at that city's Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 2016, she wrote a fierce defense of African-American activist Rachel Talbot Ross for the Portland Press Herald. While the paper declined to print the piece in its entirety, she posted it on Facebook and asked friends to circulate it widely, saying: <blockquote> I tried to get the Portland Press to print this article as an op-ed but they refused and made me cut a 730 word article down to 150 words. I did that because I wanted to get something in about Rachel before the primary next week. I decided to put the entire article on my facebook and ask you guys to share it on your facebook pages twitter and any other form of social media you can.The paper controls too much of our political process. Please circulate this! THANK YOU!!!!</blockquote> Biography Donna Loring* was raised by her grandmother on Indian Island, Maine. Loring received a Bachelors degree of Arts in Political Science from the University of Maine in Orono, and later attended the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. In 1984 she became the police chief for the Penobscot nation, making her the Academy's first female graduate to become a police chief. From 1992 to 1997, Loring was the first female director of security at Bowdoin College. During her service in Vietnam, she was stationed at the communications center at Long Binh Army base north of Saigon, where she processed all casualty reports of southeast Asia. Former Maine State Governor Angus King commissioned her to honorary Colonel rank, and appointed her as Aide de Camp to advise him on women veteran's affairs. In 2011, Loring retired to form a new nonprofit, <a href="http://www.seveneaglesmedia.org/" target="_blank">Seven Eagles Media Production,</a> which works to create accurate representations of Native people. She is also a member of the Deborah Morton Society of the University of New England and a member of the International Women's Forum (IWF) <h4 style="font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;"> Tribal Representative: In The Shadow of the Eagle </h4> Between 1998 and 2008, Loring served as Penobscot tribal representative to the Maine State Legislature. Maine is unique in having tribal representatives sit in its state legislature. Following this tradition, which dates back to the 1800s, Loring served several terms on behalf of the Penobscots. One of her major accomplishments was her writing and sponsorship of LD 291, “an Act to Require Teaching Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine’s Schools,” which passed as a law in 2001. She also created and supported the first "State of the Tribes Address" in 2002. During her tenure, Loring kept a journal, which she later turned into a memoir, In the Shadow of the Eagle. The book provides great insight into the inner workings of the U.S. government on a state level, as well as the adversity Native Americans face in modern times. For instance, the first bill Loring worked on was called the “Offensive Names Bill.” This banned the use of the word "Squaw" in the titles of Maine locations and tourist spots. She also worked on a bill that proposed an extension on the time period in which the tribe could purchase land for the Calais Casino. More than one representative opposed this and any bill having to do with Native casinos, while at the same time supporting bills that would enable race tracks to receive verbal bets over the telephone. Loring also used her position to fight environmental contamination from a local paper company. When she brought the issue to the table, the company responded with a bill to define and criminalize environmental terrorism. Loring responded by publishing an article suggesting that the bill's sponsors were the true "environmental terrorists." As her final action in the state legislature, Loring brought forward the JOINT RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (H.P. 1681). This passed, without debate, in both the State House and Senate on April 15, 2008. Maine was only state in the country to pass such a resolution in favor of the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights. Although Loring had opposition during her time as Tribal representative, her influence within the house was recognized by everyone. One of her opponents, Representative Waterhouse, once proposed a bill to ban the use of minors in police sting operations, particularly those involving tobacco sales. Loring stood up in support of this bill, which passed with staggering numbers (about two thirds). Later, she received a note from Waterhouse himself, saying “Thanks Donna, you have a lot of sway around here.” <h4 style="font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;"> New Directions</h4> In 2009, Loring gave her personal and literary papers to the University of New England, which established a highly regarded <a href="http://www.une.edu/mwwc/conferences-programs-events/donna-m.-loring-lecture-series" target="_blank">lecture series</a> in her name. Loring has continued to write and has produced the first Penobscot musical, The Glooskape Chronicles. *This article began as a biographical entry for Wikipedia. We thank Donna Loring for her time and feedback on that article and this one. <h4> Sources</h4> Dolloff, Aimee. <a class="external text" href="http://archive.bangordailynews.com/2008/04/21/the-eagle-has-landed-the-legislatures-tribal-representative-donna-m-loring-hopes-her-memoir-provides-a-guide-for-those-who-follow-in-her-footsteps/?ref=search">"‘The Eagle’ has landed; The Legislature’s tribal representative, Donna M. Loring, hopes her memoir provides a guide for those who follow in her footsteps"</a>. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 18 April 2013. Starbird, Glenn (1983). <a class="external text" href="http://legislature.maine.gov/lawlibrary/9261" target="_blank">"A Brief History of Indian Legislative Representatives"</a>. Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved 17 April 2013. Penobscot Tribal Nation. "<a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=111:donna-m-loring&catid=25:historical-presentations" target="_blank">Donna Loring</a>." Penobscot Culture. Penobscot Tribal Nation. Retrieved 4 April 2013. Senier, Siobhan. <a class="external text" href="http://indiginewenglandlit.wordpress.com/tag/donna-loring/">"A Penobscot Musical in the Making"</a>. Indigenous New England Literature. Retrieved 5 April 2013. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Carl Bumbaca, UNH '14 Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Donna M. Loring Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015 2016 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Donna Loring. Used with permission. Language A language of the resource English Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource pdf Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-293 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/8eaf6fed0779201db187067362910e7d.jpg b43682afc3bba69ec98d8a063ab04b08 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/f83a718a09625d363f077d0565ec48c2.jpg 589d133f7239bca8f5d6eb7929ea5524 https://dawnlandvoices.org/collections/files/original/d4046da2c1ef74d4463c1c5c9c2857b0.jpg 321ae131ff3eb76029da2158b48bbcfb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Penobscot Description An account of the resource The Penobscot people, who identify closely with the Penobscot River that is their home, have a reservation on Indian Island, near Old Town, Maine. Part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, they were among the tribes that won federal recognition in the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. A Penobscot scholar, Joseph Nicolar, was one of the first regional Native people to publish a book: Life and Traditions of the Red Man (1890). Since then, many others have written about their language and culture, including the performing artist Molly Spotted Elk and poet Carol Dana. The Penobscots have a rigorous process for protecting their intellectual property, asking any scholars who are studying or writing about them to communicate with their Cultural Heritage and Preservation Office. Resources Penobscot Nation <a href="https://www.penobscotnation.org/" target="_blank">website</a> <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/" target="_blank">Penobscot National Cultural & Historic Preservation Department</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Petition" (1829) by Penobscot Governors Description An account of the resource Written by Penobscot Governors and Indians in Council at Old Town, Maine, The <a href="http://www.penobscotnation.org/">Penobscot</a> Land Claims Petition of November 5, 1829 concerns the sale of tribal lands in the new State of Maine. The petition, which was in response to an application for further land sale, addressed the Penobscot’s growing wariness of sharing or selling their dwindling homeland. In 1820, the Missouri Compromise declared Maine an independent state; the Penobscot Indians faced loss of land in direct violation to the 1790 Trade and Non-intercourse Act. The Trade and Non-intercourse Act was meant to protect Indian lands on a federal level, and other treaties also made by the Penobscot with the former Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1796 and 1818 were meant to help establish reservation lands. On August 17, 1820—a mere nine years before the Penobscot Land Claims Petition—the Maine signed a new <a href="http://windowsonmaine.library.umaine.edu/fullrecord.aspx?objectId=4-88">treaty</a> with the Penobscot people, effectively releasing the Commonwealth from their former agreements with the Native Americans of Maine. Only three of the four tribes in Maine, the Penobscot, the Maliseet, and the Micmac, signed this treaty. The Passamaquoddy people, the last of the four tribes comprising the Wabanaki people of Maine, were the only tribe to not sign the treaty. Maine was and remains a border state with the territory that is now modern-day Canada. Maine was formed before the American Civil War and during a time when there was still significant tension between American, French, and English settlers. There was a drive to lay claim to the largely unknown interior and fringe areas of Maine. As property as a form of power grew, the demand for ownership of the new, rich areas in Maine became a goal for the white settlers. The Penobscot people had already given up vast areas of tribal land to the government of Maine when the 1829 petition was written, and the document sought to voice their concerns about losing the diminished portion that they had left. As seen in the 1829 petition, the additional transfer of Penobscot lands when so much had been “sold” (or forcibly handed over already), was quietly responded to as an outrageous notion. The Penobscot people’s first argument was that the State of Maine had a large quantity of wild lands that the Penobscot and other Native Americans of Maine ceded to them. Those lands had thus far been relatively unused and the Penobscot compromised by offering that once all the land was used up then they would gladly share with their white neighbors. The Penobscot wrote that “Till this is the case, leave us this little pittance, the miserable remains [still in their possession]. The wording in this section of the petition was likely crafted to dissuade the government from taking more of their land and show the “pittance” or “miserable remains” were inadequate, not worth the effort to obtain from the Penobscot. One of the substantial concerns the Penobscot people had was that if they were to continue selling their land in Maine, there would be no land remaining for future generations. The Penobscot relied on the land’s resources for sustenance and to keep their traditional practices of hunting and fishing alive. In the petition, it is highlighted that through settlement of Penobscot territory—that was supposedly theirs to govern and call home—a fish trap was destroyed, and white settlers stole previously harvested and stored provisions from their land. By bringing attention to these struggles, the Penobscot people attempted to obviate any further dispossession. Throughout the petition, the Penobscot continually maintain that they are willing to work with the terms of the white people in order to come to a common understanding. In reference to building a tavern on a military road so white men had a place to stop along their travels, the Penobscot were very willing to make “such men to be accommodated.” The Penobscot also point to the fact they anticipated the white settlers would ask for more taverns along the road when they complain that one is not enough. The Penobscot refer to the white people as their “brothers” and “brethren,” recognizing certain equality between them, and are taken aback by the whites not treating them the same respect and understanding. In the closing lines of the petition the Penobscot write: “We have been faithful to our white brethren and all we ask in return, is, that their contract towards us should be just and reasonable.” In <a href="http://www.penobscotculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=25">1833</a>, four years following the 1829 Penobscot Indian Land Claims Petition, a controversial sale of some of the remaining Penobscot lands took place. It is said that a number of the Penobscot tribal members who signed the treaty did not understand exactly what they were giving up when they did so. Further loss of Penobscot land took place and 100,000 acres of land was sold, leaving only 5,000 acres in the ownership of the tribe. It was not until over a century later, in accordance with the <a href="http://www.mitsc.org/documents/33_FedSettActALL.pdf">Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980,</a> that the Penobscot and other Wabanaki tribes in Maine were compensated for the unlawful disposition of their tribal lands. What is perhaps most troubling—and perhaps most worth noting—is this thought of the intent to gain possession of tribal lands at all costs. That the Penobscot people signed away land unintentionally is further testament to the settlers’ avarice and disrespect toward not only the Penobscot, but many other tribes at this time. Such documents as this petition are central to our discussions of reclamation and land rights and are worth excavating for the richness of culture and context they provide. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Penobscot Governors and Indians in Council Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="http://windowsonmaine.library.umaine.edu/view.aspx?objectId=4-9&currentfile=0" target="_blank">Windows on Maine</a> Maine State Archives Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1829-11-05 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Siobhan Smith, UNH '12 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Document Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource jpeg Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context DV-268