Wabanaki Voices in the Bangor Daily News
In February 2024, the Bangor Daily News launched “Wabanaki Voices,” a monthly column in the newspapers’ opinion section that shares perspectives from Wabanaki citizens. The Wabanaki Alliance shares these columns on this page each month. Check back regularly for new installments.
How land claims settlement has harmed tribes in Maine
The May Wabanaki Voices column highlights ways in which the 1980 land claims settlement act has harmed Wabanaki Nations in Maine. It was written by Donna Loring, Penboscot Nation elder and vice president of the Wabanaki Alliance board of directors.
Strengthening Tribal Sovereignty Can Improve Well Being of All Mainers
The April Wabanaki Voices column discusses legislative priorities in the 132nd Maine Legislature. It was written by Maliseet Ambassador Osihkiyol Crofton-Macdonald; Penobscot Nation Elder Donna Loring; Rena Newell, citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik; Mi’kmaq Nation Vice Chief Richard Silliboy; and Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative Aaron Dana, all members of the Wabanaki Alliance board.
Trump cuts already having devastating impacts on tribal communities
The March Wabanaki Voices column discusses the devastating impact the Trump administration is already having on tribal nations in Maine and across the country. It was written by Kirk Francis, Chief of the Penobscot Nation, president of United Southern and Eastern Tribes, and advisory board member for the Wabanaki Alliance.
From Selma to the Penobscot: A shared vision of justice
The January Wabanaki Voices column discusses the parallels between the work by Wabanaki leaders and citizens to restore tribal sovereignty and the work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. It was written by Donna Loring, a Penobscot Nation Tribal Elder and member of the Wabanaki Alliance Board, and Maine Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross from Portland, the former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
Wabanaki people have a right to be safe and heard
The December Wabanaki Voices column highlights the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people and was written by Maulian Dana, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation and executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance.
The enduring value of freedom
The November Wabanaki Voices column highlights the story of Wabanaki citizen and World War II veteran Charles Shay and was written by Donna Loring, a Penobscot Nation Tribal Elder, Vietnam Veteran, and Wabanaki Alliance Board Member.
Legislative scorecard is building sovereignty through education and awareness
The Alliance published two Wabanaki Voices columns in October. This second one highlights the 131st Maine Legislature Scorecard and was written by Maliseet Ambassador Osihkiyol Crofton-Macdonald, Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative Aaron Dana, Penobscot Nation Elder Donna Loring, and Mi’kmaq Nation Vice Chief Richard Silliboy.
Indigenous Peoples Day in Maine, 5 years later
The Alliance published two Wabanaki Voices columns in October. This first one offers a look back on the five years since the law officially designating Indigenous Peoples Day was passed. It was written by Maulian Bryant, former Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador and incoming Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance.
‘The Creator’s Game’ has been changing lives for hundreds of years
This month’s Wabanaki Voices column is about lacrosse, known in indigenous communities as “the Creator’s Game.” It was written by Corey Hinton, a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe (Sipayik) and former member of the Haudenosaunee Nationals Lacrosse Team.
Honor the Watertown Treaty of 1776 by mending American-Indigenous relationship
This month’s Wabanaki Voices column is about the history of the Watertown Treaty of 1776, told from the Wabanaki perspective. It was written by Osihkiyol Crofton-Macdonald, the tribal ambassador for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and a co-commissioner on the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission.