Poster design by Ellie Oldach.
We are so grateful to have worked with our Wabanaki colleagues to convene the first-ever First Light Summit to gather our Wabanaki and non-native community and take heart from each other's company, ideas, and good work. The Summit took place on October 25th and we packed a performance venue in downtown Bangor. In the spirit of not taking pictures, the only one we can share is this image of a COURAGE banner flying outside from the third floor window. Courage was at the heart of this day! Singers, elders, Chiefs, and Indigenous dignitaries from the Dawnland and beyond brought prayers and calls to action to raise our collective courage for the work ahead. We heard inspiring conversations on the importance of collective action toward a clear purpose whether that be sustaining diverse languages, land rematriation, or fighting for clean water. In particular, we were honored to hear Maine’s first languages – the languages of Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Penobscot, and Mi'kmaq – in their homelands. As Marcus Briggs-Cloud – a linguist and Muskoka person – said, it’s a blessing to listen to these languages, spoken aloud, in the land they belong to.
While we celebrated being together and what we’ve accomplished over the years, we also felt the necessity of continuing and expanding the scope of this work. We heard from Tony Sutton, a professor at University of Maine and member of the Passamaquoddy, and Noela Altvater, a student and member of the Passamaquoddy, who described the challenges to Wabanaki food and water sovereignty and health due to a lack of land access and the history of land theft in Maine. They gave their perspectives on these crises which demand attention and advocacy not just from the Passamaquoddy Nation or Wabanaki Confederacy, but from all of us who are their allies, too. These calls to action give us direction as we begin to plan for 2023.
One way that we are responding to the requests of our community is by launching Changing Legacies, a First Light Learning Journey for 73 board members from 39 different organizations. Together, these board members will go deeper into the work of relearning history and organizational change to create new legacies. Board members of First Light organizations make critical decisions about sharing resources and land return; they are central to the success of First Light.
We are also proud to announce a new position in First Light, funded by member organization The Nature Conservancy, which is designed to accelerate the rate of land return. Brett Ciccotelli has joined our team as Tribal Land Recovery Manager. Brett’s years of experience in coastal river restoration in Maine make him an excellent addition to our team where the ability to build trust and center Wabanaki needs is paramount.
Finally, we will be working hard over the next year to fulfill our recent commitment to raise $1,000,000 for an initial deposit, a solidarity deposit, to what we are currently calling the Self-Determination Fund of the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship. At the 2022 First Light Summit, Wabanaki and non-native organizers called on the community to support the Fund which will be run by and for Wabanaki communities and will be funded by annual payments from non-native organizations. It is similar in function to efforts like the Mana-Hatta Fund and Real Rent Duwamish, for example. With time and care we hope it will be another means of relearning our shared histories, recentering Wabanaki voices, and returning land.
Photo by Peter Forbes
Now that the Summit has wrapped, we’d like to share our warmest thanks to the First Light community on a energizing, galvanizing day together. In particular, thank you to...
Speakers: Chief Clarissa Sabattis, Marcus Briggs Cloud, John Banks, Lisa Sockabasin, Darren Ranco, Richard Silliboy, Gabe Paul & Nicole Paul, Tony Sutton, Noela Altvater, Peter Forbes, Roger Milliken, Ethan Miller, Jess Burton, Ciona Ulbrich
Performers: Kelly Demmons , Bennett Konesni & John Gawler, Burnurwurbskek Drummers
Master of Ceremonies: Lokotah Sanborn
Chef: Joe Robbins