Our Model

Native and non-Native gathering.

Together we can heal our relationship with land and each other

We are the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship and First Light, and we're helping to reimagine Maine as a Wabanaki place by restoring Wabanaki presence and access to land. This work relies on relationships between Native and non-native people, each working within our own nations and organizations to find a better way forward, together.

We move at the speed of trust

  • People speaking during gathering

    First Light

    Land Return Initiative

    First Light is a collective of non-native land-oriented organizations and agencies working to expand Wabanaki access and stewardship of land toward a future of nature and people thriving in Wabanaki homelands.

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Learn about how First Light organizations work at the direction of the Wabanaki Commission and what we are accomplishing together.

Our Progress

Wabanaki Territory, today, is mostly in the hands of non-native people and organizations. The Wabanaki Commission and First Light are working to restore balance to pursue land recovery priorities and return land to Tribal holding.

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Events

  • Hand in front of text on a wall saying "We are all honored here"
    For First Light Community Organizations

    Facilitating for Change Workshop

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    Knoll Farm, one of the organizations who has been a close friend and source of inspiration throughout First Light’s history,  is offering a course this spring exclusively for members of First Light organizations. The four day course, happening June 2-5, and facilitated by Peter Forbes, teaches practical skills in facilitating culture change within organizations and coalitions. The goal is to share learnings and practices about how dominant culture organizations can evolve to be in right relationship with peoples, Tribes, social and environmental objectives in order to accelerate positive change.

    In-person Workshop

See First Light Events

Wabanaki Commission logo mark in shape of illustrated feather with mountain and sunrise landscape, river, trees, and fiddlehead

WABANAKI COMMUNITY

Reunite with Your Homeland

Explore cultural activities and projects that reunite us with the land and each other.

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First Light Logo Mark, circle with sunrise, water, birds, and trees.

NON-NATIVE PEOPLE

Return Land

We'll work with land-holding organizations to help them offer land back to the Wabanaki Commission.
(Not yet able to return land? There's still a place for you in this movement.)

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