Wabanaki Perspectives & Human Awareness

Important Cultural Event at UMA

Four day Event, , October 13-16

This four-day event on the UMA campus that will generate, develop and sustain human and cultural awareness by honoring diversity within and throughout the communities of Maine.

Purpose/goals/outcomes for this interactive event:

This event will provide an opportunity :

For Native American Students attending UMA to gather and share their culture.

To allow Wabanaki youth to meet and to celebrate their common heritage while sharing key aspects of Wabanaki nationhood and culture with the non-Indian population.

To allow Wabanaki youth to experience a campus environment and learn about the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.

For non-Native American students to learn about the Wabanaki and participate in Wabanaki cultural activities.

For the public to learn about the Wabinaki and participate in Wabanaki cultural activities; and

To provide a foundation for future intra and inter cultural interactions amongst  university students, faculty, staff and the public.

Dates and duration of the event:  October 13-16, 2009.

Schedule of Events:

Events catering to the adult UMA community and public are planned Tuesday through Thursday daytime and evening events.  Youth activities will be scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Wabanaki artists and craftsmen will be present throughout the week on the first floor of the Randall Student Center.

Monday through Thursday

Monday: University Closed—no events planned

Tuesday October 13th 7:00 PM – Jewett Auditorium (The President’s Reception will take place from 6 -7 by invitation)

Welcome: President Allyson Handley

Blessing

Spirituality: Connections with “GheChi’Nawais” and “All That Is”
Wayne Newell (Passamaquoddy)
Rubin (Butch) Phillips (Penobscot)

Film “A New Dawn”

Rubin (Butch) Phillips and Wayne Newell, Tribal Elders, former State Representatives and Spiritual Leaders within their respective tribes will discuss the essence of Wabanaki Spirituality and how spirituality influences intra and inter tribal communications.

Wednesday October 14th

Native Menu in the Café (Our Café will offer Native American specialty foods such as rabbit and venison, fiddleheads,  and berries1:00PM – Fireplace Lounge, Randall Student Center

Native American Veterans –  The Inherited Role of the Native VeteranPresentation: Charles Shay, Penobscot, WWII and Korean War veteran. Silver Star and French Legion of Honor Recipient. WWII Prisoner of War.  Charlie’s interview will be taped on the reservation.Other Panelists will include Eugene (Chippy) Loring (Penobscot) and Kenneth Hanning (Maliseet)  The panel will be moderated by Paul Bisulca.The panel will discuss the historical roles Native Americans have played in the defense of our nation.  The impact of stereotypes that both honor and contribute to the high casualty rates for Native Americans will be examined.

Film “Way of the Warrior” – Wednesday, October 14th 7:00 PM

Reception graciously hosted by the Holocaust and Human Rights Center and presentation in the Center Auditorium.  Please see the center director for more details.

Tribal Identification: The Importance of Knowing One’s Roots
(Maliseet and Micmac focus)

Lead Presenter: Richard Silliboy, Micmac

Panel members: Chief Brenda Commander, Maliseet
Steven Rowe, Former Maine Attorney General

Film “Invisible”

The panel will examine the human impact on individuals who are denied their cultural and tribal identity, and the efforts being made by the Maine tribes to reacculturate returning members.  The cooperative efforts put forth by the Maliseets and the State of Maine to provide for the retention of one’s identity will be addressed.

Thursday October 15th

Native Menu in the Café12:30 PM –Fireplace Lounge, Randall Center

Basketmaking:   A Tribute to the Revival of Cultural Arts and PrideTheresa Secord (Penobscot), a fourth generation basket maker, will discuss the evolution of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance (MIBA), her role as a founder and Executive Director of the Alliance and the positive impact this organization has had on her people.  A slide show of MIBA work will be “woven” into the presentation.

Thursday, October 15th 7:00 PMIssues of Sovereignty: The Inherent Rights of the Wabanaki Nations
(Multi-tribal focus)

Lead Presenter: Darren Ranco (Penobscot), University Of Maine Professor.  James Sappier, present council member and former chief of the Penobscot Nation, Council Woman Elizabeth Neptune of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Paul Thibeault, Esq. from Pine Tree Legal will join Professor Ranco in a candid discussion of current and past political issues.

Kid’s activities (+/- 50 native kids)
Micmac, Maliseet, Penobscot and Sipayik 7th graders

Penobscot Representative Wayne Mitchell will host a tour of the State House and State Museum (Wabanaki textile exhibit). Students will have an opportunity to meet with Tribal & State Leaders and learn about the legislative process

Travel to UMA and set up Camp

Campus Thursday evening activities
Campus orientation, student meet and mix
Dinner in the University Café
Film, snacks, storytelling, drumming, etc.
Campers go to bed

Friday, October 16th

Indian Township kids travel to UMA/campers have breakfast and pack up.

Proposed Campus Activities

Basket Making  (bookmarks)
Singing and Drumming
Kids performance (kids from each of the tribes perform for their peers)
Traditional Dance classes
Story Telling
Tour of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine
Campus tours

2:00 – 3:00 PM   Education and the future—importance, opportunities, responsibilities and:“How do you get there from here?” (WBBC model)
(Wabanaki/Native American/Global Focus)

3:00 PM   Kids depart and Campus clean up

Week-long ongoing opportunities:

Talking Circles
Sacred Space
Bonfire by the lake
Music by native artists
Continual showing of films on university public monitors
Traditional foods available in the café
Arts displayed throughout the main buildings
Sale of local Native products:  Books, DVDs, CDs, Baskets, Jewelry, Clothing, crafts

University of Maine at Augusta
46 University Drive
Augusta, ME 04330-9410

877-UMA-1234 (toll free within Maine)
207 621-3000

The University College of Bangor

1 University Drive
Bangor, ME 04401-4331
(207) 262-7800