Issue 1, March 2014

Maine-Wabanaki REACH Reconciliation • Engagement • Advocacy • Change • Healing

Native Americans have experienced severe losses of land, livelihood, and language. They have had their children taken away and their religious practices outlawed. Removing Native children from their homes disconnected them from the security of family and left a void in their tribes. Beginning with boarding schools in the 1800’s, the taking of Native children continued well into the 1990’s. In Maine, Wabanaki children were taken from their families & communities and placed in foster homes at a rate higher than most other states in the nation. Chief Brenda Commander of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians spoke to this issue: “As a Chief, a mother, and a grandmother, I know the incredible importance of our Children. At one time, 16% of all Maliseet children were in State custody. This disproportionate taking of our children threatened the survival of our Tribe.”

The Maine-Wabanaki Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a precedent-setting collaboration between Maine tribes and the State of Maine. Their goals are truth, healing, and change- to learn what happened first hand from people affected by the child welfare system, to support people in finding their voices, and to recommend policy changes to ensure that Native children will no longer suffer within these systems.

Transforming Trauma to Truth

-By Maria Girouard

“As my suffering mounted, I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation – either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical trauma is trauma inflicted on any group of people over multiple generations, which still affects them today. Such trauma is cumulative and collective, and results from violent actions. As history unfolds, more and more stories are uncovered which reveal the full extent of the trauma that has been inflicted against the original people of this continent.

In this issue:

Maine TRC.…………….…2

Spotlight.……………….…3

Q&A…………….…….…4-5

Justice in the Body…..……5

Community.….…….…...6-7

Links…....………………….7

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Issue 1, March 2014

Maine Wabanaki- State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Commissioners of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) were selected by a tribal-state selection committee and officially seated on February 12, 2013. The TRC process was conceptualized and established by Maine-Wabanaki REACH, who have been working together to improve child welfare practices for Wabanaki children and families since 1999. The TRC was authorized by the five Wabanaki Chiefs and the Maine State Governor on June 29,

The TRC has until November 2015 to complete their work and fulfill these three purposes: Truth: uncover and acknowledge the truth about what happened to Wabanaki children and families involved with the Maine child welfare system Healing: to create opportunities to give voice to Wabanaki people who are impacted by Maine child welfare system and to heal and learn from the truth Change: to issue a report that includes recommendations for best child welfare practices with Wabanaki children and families. The TRC visited Sipayik in November and Motahkmikuk in February, getting to know

community members, participating in healing circles and gathering statements. They are scheduled to visit Penobscot Nation and Wabanaki Health and Wellness at the end of March and the Maliseet and Micmac communities in May. You are invited to provide a statement to the TRC about your experience, whether you were directly involved with, or indirectly affected by the Maine child welfare system. It is also important for the TRC to have an understanding of the history and present realities of our communities so please come share your experiences.

Commissioners, (L-R): Carol Wishcamper, Sandra White Hawk, Matt Dunlap, Gail Werrbach, gkisedtanamoogk

TRC Websites

https://www.facebook.com/MaineWabanakiStateChildWelfareTRC

https://twitter.com/ME_Wabanaki_TRC

www.mainewabanakitrc.org

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Issue 1, March 2014

TRC Visit at Motahkmikuk -by Stephanie Bailey

The TRC commissioners, staff, and interns arrived in the Motahkmikuk Community on Tuesday, February 18th. The process of the TRC took place at the Indian Township School, located on the oldest settled part of the reservation, Peter Dana Point. The five Commissioners arrived after 3:00 pm and they met with Passamaquoddy tribal chief, Joseph Socobasin, to offer their thanks and converse before the process officially began. Chief Socobasin welcomed the commissioners and then gave some background on the process, how it worked its way to our people, and his signing of the mandate. Passamaquoddy Elder, Joan Dana, a huge supporter of the TRC process, believes the process will elicit healing among our people and spread to other First Nations. She offered the opening prayer. Following the prayer the five commissioners introduced themselves to the community. We then asked the community if they had any questions about the process. One woman opened up and shared a portion of her painful upbringing. The meeting went well and it was great to see her readiness to open up in hopes to provide change within the system.

Following the meeting, we all sat and shared a delicious meal of baked chicken and strawberry shortcake. After the meal we made our way to the school gym where we gathered for a social with Huntley Brook Drum Group. It was wonderful to hear our traditional songs and participate in traditional dancing with tribal members and share it with all who joined us. We then parted ways for the night. Before dawn the next morning, the Commissioners, REACH members, TRC staff, and community members gathered just beyond the school grounds to participate in a sunrise ceremony. Marie Tomah and gkisedtanamoogk lit the sacred fire. The ash and coal from the sacred fire held during the TRC process at Sipayik was put on our sacred fire here to begin our day. We then proceeded to the school cafeteria where breakfast was served until 9 am. At 9 am with community members completed a short survey to which their name would be entered into a drawing for a door prize. Elder, Joan Dana, then did an opening prayer/blessing to officially begin our day. We watched The Canary Effect, which is a 2006 documentary that looks at the devastating effect that US policies have had on indigenous people of America.

We seperated into four groups to discuss the intense documentary and then broke for lunch. The afternoon session was filled with and then broke for lunch. The afternoon session was filled with a Peace and Healing Circle. The large circle was well attended and filled with sacred discussions. Following the Circle, we then went in line around the circle and hugged one another as a way to support one another. Then we all walked to the sacred fire with the many used tissues that held the sorrow of our day to put them into the sacred fire. We do this as a symbol to release our sorrow to Mother Earth: to let go.

Maine Wabanaki- State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Spotlight

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Issue 1, March 2014

(Continued)

“What compels you to do this work?”

“I want our people to come together. I want us to live healthier. Healing comes as we share our struggles.”

-Stephanie

“I feel like we need some healing in our community. I want to begin the healing in our community to keep the next generation of families strong and healthy.”

-Leona

“Healing for my community.”

-Caroline

“When I learned it would help Indian child welfare, I felt more passionate about the work.”

-Krista

“I believe in the sacredness of children and their right to be safe and happy.”

-Janet

“I feel like I don’t have a choice, that it is my duty to make things better for Wabanaki, a responsibility that comes from our ancestors. I believe in the healing and transformative power of building community”

-Esther

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(continued from pg.3 )

“Advocating for what is right. Protecting our families and communities is right. Defending our heritage is right.”

-Juanita

“The overall healing work that needs to happen in my community and the TRC focus on child welfare is just a small piece of that.”

-Maria

The trigger produces more than a memory even if there is no conscious memory, the body remembers. The body then becomes re-engaged as if the threat is currently happening.To alleviate the effects of trauma within the body: • Exercise releases

adrenaline. • Tai-Chi and other slow

movement practices • Using teas • Massage • Practicing mindfulness and

meditation relaxes the body.

• Eat well. It strengthens and heals the body.

• Create safe and loving support.

• Do what you love! For more information check out the website: http://www.justiceinthebody.com

emergency response within our bodies. Trauma stays in our body because the emotion of fear has leaves us altered and disconnected from our bodies; and develops and activates an emergency response within our bodies. Trauma stays in our body because the emotion of fear has a very specific pathway in the brain. When what we hear, see, smell, taste, or feel signals the original threat, the experience of fear creates a “flee or freeze” response plan to remove us from danger quickly.

Justice in the Body -Compiled by Juanita Grant

“With trauma we become stuck in survival mode.” -Peter Levine Justice in the body addresses trauma and it’s impact on the body. Trauma is experiences or situations that: overwhelm us, even if the threat is perceived or real; undermines our ability to cope; leaves us altered and disconnected from our bodies; and develops and activates an

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Issue 1, March 2014

Community

Sipayik

Peace n Healing Circles every Thursday at 6:00 Lunch and Learn, film and discussion March 12 and April 16 TRC statement gathering April 10, July 22, Sept 15 For more information contact your community organizers: Stephanie Bailey…………..……stephanie@mainewabanakireach.org……....……………..(207) 796-5401 Caroline Maher…………………caroline@mainewabanakireach.org….………………………..(207)853-0716 View our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/groups/612058428848065/

Motahkmikuk

Elders discussion circle March 17 Lunch and Learn, film and discussion March 26 and April 30 Workshop for grandparents raising their grandchildren, foster care and kinship care providers April 12 TRC Statement Gathering April 9, July 21, Sept 14 For more information contact your community organizers: Stephanie Bailey……………………stephanie@mainewabanakireach.org…………………..(207) 796-5401 Janet Lola…………………………..janet@mainewabanakireach.org……………………………(207) 478-3902

View our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/groups/546813648747063/

Micmac

Film and discussion March 28 at 2:00 and April 15 at 2:00 TRC Visit May 22 & 23 For more information contact your community organizers: Krista Stevens………………..krista@mainewabanakireach.org…………………..……………….(207) 498-9362 Dena Dudley……………….dena@mainewabanakireach.org…………………………………….(207) 768-1829

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Issue 1, March 2014

Penobscot TRC visit March 26 and 28 Statement gatherers return May 2 Peace and Healing Circle meet every other week. Contact Maria. For more information contact your community organizers: Maria Girouard…………………..maria@mainewabanakireach.org……………..…………...…….(207) 852-2541

View our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/groups/282529951898579/

Maliseet

Film and discussion March 18 at NOON and April 10 at NOON TRC Visit May 20 & 21 Peace & Healing Circle every other Thursday. March 27. Contact Leona. For more information contact your community organizers: Leona Alvavrado………………..leona@mainewabanakireach.org…………….………………….(207) 538-1933

Wabanaki Health & Wellness

TRC visit March 26 and 27 Statement gatherers return May 1 Peace and Healing Circle meet every Thursday 2:00-3:00. Film and discussion every other Thursday 11:30-1:30 For more information contact your community organizers: Juanita Grant…………………..juanita@mainewabanakireach.org…………………..…………….(207) 214-0105

View our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/Urban.TRC.Community

Community

Visit our pages!

https://www.facebook.com/MEWabanakiREACH https://twitter.com/MEWabanakiREACH www.mainewabanakireach.org