Maine Indians, Wabanaki Peoples – our Past and Present Stories
This month’s session of the Great Falls Forum will take place on Friday, March 20th, featuring John Bear Mitchell, Wabanaki Center Outreach & Student Development Coordinator, University of Maine System Native American Waiver Coordinator, and University of Maine Lecturer in Wabanaki Studies, with a presentation entitled, “Maine Indians, Wabanaki Peoples – our Past and Present Stories.” The program will take place from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. in Callahan Hall.
John Bear Mitchell is a member of the Penobscot Nation on Indian Island and is employed by the University of Maine where he teaches courses in Wabanaki history and multicultural diversity. Before taking his position at Orono he was the Native Studies teacher at the Indian Island School.
In 2001 Mitchell was appointed by the Penobscot Tribal Council to serve as a member of the Wabanaki Education Commission, a group established by the Maine State Legislature to develop a Wabanaki Studies curriculum for all Maine schools. Since that time he has served on numerous museum and educational boards across the state and as a consultant and a participant in the PBS series “Colonial House.”
John Bear is an accomplished Native American storyteller and for many years served as an Arts in Education Touring Artist, visiting Maine schools to present stories and songs of the Wabanaki peoples. His Great Falls Forum presentation will focus on Wabanaki history, culture, and story-telling traditions.
Admission is free to all Forum events and no reservations are required. This program is a bring-your-own brown-bag lunch event. Coffee, tea and bottled water will be available on site at the library.
The Great Falls Forum is co-sponsored by the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street. More information on Friday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.
