In late March and early April 2026, First Light hosted three regional gatherings with First Light organizations in Southern, Central, and Northern & Downeast Maine.
These gatherings offered a space for members of the First Light community to connect and reconnect with others in our regions, share the work happening locally, reflect on successes, challenges and learnings, and strengthen the bonds that help this work move forward collectively.
Across each region we were struck by the incredible breadth of work, relationships, and commitments that members of this community are carrying. You can see this work and these relationships represented below. Each of us added projects we’re working on to a large map, and by the third gathering the land was swirling in colors – land returns, public education efforts, marsh restoration collaborations, sweetgrass harvesting, commitments to Wolankeyutomone kisi apaciyewik, storywalks, internal organizational learning, Community Letters, policy change, and more.
Each region had its own distinctive feeling and unique themes that bubbled to the surface. In Northern & Downeast Maine, attendees shared ideas about building strong relationships within organizations to support return. In Central Maine, active land returns and comanagement projects sparked energized discussions, and attendees workshopped how to introduce this work to neighbor organizations that haven’t yet been involved. In Southern Maine, folks shared the public programming and education work their organizations are building, and we talked about building cross-border relationships with Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations, while holding accountability and strong relationships with the five Wabanaki communities here in Maine. The work this community does varies by geography, proximity to Wabanaki communities, and organizational focus areas and skills – but across the landscape, all of us are finding meaningful ways to support repair and relationships in Wabanaki homelands.
And we’re nourished by the time together – especially when we can gather in person. As one attendee reflected, it was good being with “the many wonderful humans also doing this work in a supportive community, relationship building, spending a day in the sort of community and workspace I'm trying to build elsewhere.”
We couldn’t agree more. We’re filled with gratitude for this community, and all of the work you carry. Thank you to each of you who joined us for one of the gatherings. As always, it’s a gift to be in person together. Each gathering was hosted by a different First Light organization, and we extend our warmest gratitude to Viles Arboretum, Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and Fields Pond Audubon Center for sharing your beautiful spaces to allow the community to be together.
This year was the first time we held these regional events. Going forward, we plan to weave regional gatherings into our annual programming, to have another touchstone for the community to share time and space in person. We look forward to seeing you in mud season 2027!