LD 291: An Act to Require Teaching of Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine's Schools was drafted, introduced and passed in 2001. Thanks to the following for their part in passing this law:
Donna Loring, Penobscot Nation, former Maine State Tribal Representative
Donald Soctomah, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, Maine State Tribal Representative
Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
The 120th Maine Legislature
Thanks to the pioneers, those who began the effort to implement Wabanaki Studies in Maine’s schools:
The 2001-2003 Wabanaki Studies Commission that reported to Maine’s Legislature in 2003 and this same group who advised the Commissioner of Education from 2003-2008.
Special thanks to Dr. Maureen Smith for her leadership and commitment to this group.
The perseverance of John Bear Mitchell who served on the social studies Content Area Panel and advocated for the implementation of Wabanaki Studies into Maine’s Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction.
Education Commissioner Susan Gendron convened a group in Spring 2008 to evaluate progress and make recommendations for greater implementation of Wabanaki Studies in Maine schools. This group included members from the Wabanaki Tribal Governments in Maine, the Maine Legislature, the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, the University of Maine System, and the Maine Department of Education.
Paul Bisulca, Penobscot Nation, Chairman, Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
Jana Boody, Social Studies Specialist, Maine Department of Education
Dr. James Breece, Vice Chancellor, University of Maine System
John Dieffenbacher-Krall, Director, Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
Dr. Angela Faherty, Deputy Commissioner of Education, Maine Department of Education
James Francis, Penobscot Nation, Tribal Historian
Nicole Francis, Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Education Director
Maria Girouard, Penobscot Nation, Department of Cultural and Historic Preservation
Donna Loring, Penobscot Nation, former Maine Tribal Representative
John Bear Mitchell, Penobscot Nation, Wabanaki Center, University of Maine
Dr. Darren Ranco, Penobscot Nation, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Maine
Brian Reynolds, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Tribal Administrator
James Sappier, Penobscot Nation, former Penobscot Chief
Dr. Maureen Smith, Oneida, Director of Native American Studies & Associate Professor, University of Maine
Dr. Robert White, Associate Provost & Dean, University of Maine
From December 2008 through May 2009 Tribal Chiefs designated cultural experts to work with Maine educators to create a curriculum document that would suggest greater specificity and guidance on implanting Wabanaki Studies in local curricula. The following people shared a variety of roles in creating the first version of the document included on this webpage:
Jay Adams, Old Fort Western, Augusta
Paul Bisulca, Penobscot Nation, Chairman, Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
Jana Boody, Social Studies Specialist, Maine Department of Education
Joseph Charnley, King Middle School, Portland
John Dieffenbacher-Krall, Director, Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
Nicole Francis, Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Education Director
Jeanie McGowan, Nylander Museum, Caribou
Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town
Tania M. Morey, Aroostook Band of Micmacs
Ruben “Butch” Phillips, Penobscot Nation, former Tribal Legislative Representative & Lieutenant Governor
Pam Prescott, Belgrade Central School, Belgrade
Betsy Sky McIlvain, Freeport High School, Freeport
Sarah Simmonds, Education Consultant, Maine Department of Education
Donald Soctomah, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, Maine State Tribal Representative
Doug Spaulding, Sanford High School, Sanford
Shirley Spaulding, Sanford High School, Sanford
Val Vassar, Riverton Elementary School, Portland
Thanks to Wabanaki Tribal Leaders in Maine for appointing cultural experts to guide this curriculum work. Thanks also for their time on June 1, 2009 to receive and review this project.
And a special thank you to the following Wabanaki educators and scholars who were kind enough to serve as critical friends to ensure an accurate document that reflects the priorities of Maine’s Wabanaki communities:
Wayne Newell, Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Motahkmikuk, Director of Bicultural Programs
Dr. David Perley, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute, University of New Brunswick
Imelda Perley, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute, University of New Brunswick