Maine’s Native American Studies Resources

Once you begin a web search, you’ll find more information than you can possibly use in your efforts to gather resources to prepare for classes on Wabanaki history, culture, arts, and more. As with any web search, please evaluate the validity and usefulness of these sites. Many of the sites listed here are from reputable organizations: the tribes, universities, public broadcasting, museums, etc. When visiting sites from individuals or commercial enterprises, be cautious about accepting the “facts” that are given. Whenever possible, use literature, music, and other artistic and cultural expressions that are written by or performed by members of the Wabanaki Confederation.

Wabanaki Tribal Websites

http://www.penobscotnation.org The website of the Penobscot Nation.

http://www.wabanaki.com The website of the Passamaquoddy Tribal Government.

http://www.wabanaki.com The website of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point.

http://www.peopleofthedawn.com The website of the Passamaquoddy Tribe contains links to tribal history.

http://www.maliseets.com The website of the Houlton band of Maliseets contains contact information for all tribal affairs.

http://www.micmac-nsn.gov The official website of the Aroostook Bank of Micmacs. Includes numerous links to information about history, government, social issues, etc.

http://www.naps.umaine.edu/NAP_Related_Links.html A concise list of links to each Tribe’s website…all in one place.

Information about LD 291

http://www.umaine.edu/ld291 Website established by the University of Maine. Includes the text of LD 291, the final report of the Wabanaki Studies Commission, and a Guide of Instructional Resources for teaching middle level students.

http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills_120th/billtexts/LD029101-1.asp  Contains the text of  LD 291, the new Maine Studies Law.

http://www.umaine.edu/ld291/M&MResources.htm Resources for information on Maine’s Native Tribes. Includes video and print resources.

Information from Maine Public Broadcasting

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/p8creationstories.html The legend of Gluskap, or culture hero of the Wabanaki people, has been passed down from older people to younger people, generation to generation, for hundreds of years. Gluskap is said to have created man and woman for each of the Wabanaki tribes. View legends of Gluskap on this site.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/timelines/artstimeline.html The cultural and artistic timeline of Maine’s Wabanaki Tribes from 1524 through the 20th century.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/timelines/timeline1.html The historic timeline of Maine’s Wabanaki Tribes from pre-history through the current time. This timeline includes a parallel timeline of historical events that were occurring throughout the world at the same time.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/timelines/natamtimeline.html A timeline of Native American Culture, pre-history-20th century.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/others1.html Links to other sites of historical interest in Maine.

Lesson Plans

http://www.umaine.edu/ld291/MaineDirigo.pdf This 47 page pdf site includes numerous lesson plans that were developed at the state level in order to help teachers develop lessons on Maine’s Wabanaki People.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/prog8lessplan.html Complete lesson plans for use with the PBS Video: Home, the Story of Maine, Episode 8 People of the Dawn.

History

http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba/index.shtml Ne-Do-Ba is a nonprofit Maine corporation established to explore and share topics relating to the Abenaki Indian and their Euro-American relationships in Western Maine, past and present.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/timelines/timeline1.html History timeline of the Wabanaki People.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/41/037.html The significance of wampum to seventeenth century Indians in New England. The cultural uses and meaning of wampum to native people were wide and varied. Non-native historians defined wampum as Indian money, but this definition seems inaccurate and incomplete. Wampum exchange embodied a medium of gift giving whose value was widely accepted among Northeastern Indians, and had a certain value in both use and exchange.

http://www.davistownmuseum.org/TDMnativeAm.htm In-depth history of Maine’s Native Tribes, for older students.

http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba/web_hist.html A compendium of websites devoted to Maine’s Native Tribes, including some sites for young learners.

Culture

http://www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/tree.htm Tree and Tradition: Brown Ash and Maine Native American Basket Making. This is an on-line exhibit from the Hudson Museum at UMO. It includes information on brown ash basket making, along with a gallery of photographs.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/timelines/natamtimeline.html A cultural timeline of the Wabanaki People.

http://www.naps.umaine.edu/NAP_Home.html The University of Maine's Office of Native American Programs is dedicated to increasing the cultural understanding and appreciation of Native people.

http://www.mainepbs.org/hometsom/timelines/artstimeline.html A timeline of Maine’s Arts and Culture.

http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba/web_hist.html A compendium of websites devoted to Maine’s Native Tribes, including some sites for young learners.

http://gizmo.sad4.com/~ebartley/NativeAmericans/referencepage.html A site put together by MSAD 4. Lots of sites to visit! Go here before sending your children, to see if there are any objectionable ads.

http://www.umaine.edu/folklife/newsfl00warclub.htm A research project into the carved war clubs of the Penobscot.

Maine Museum Resources for Native Studies

http://www.abbemuseum.org/index.html The Abbe Museum’s home page with a host of information for teachers, school programs, special events, and their changing exhibitions.

http://www.abbemuseum.org/pages/wabanaki.html Map, information about each tribe, and useful links for teachers.

www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/index.php Check on the Hudson Museum’s changing exhibits, which frequently include collections from the Wabanaki cultures.

http://www.state.me.us/museum Visit the Exhibits section of the homepage of the Maine State Museum. There you will find 12,000 Years in Maine, which includes information and photos of Maine’s pre-history, including its Native Tribes.

Language Study/Oral History

http://www.native-languages.org/mali.htm#language Contains language resources and lessons, along with pronunciation guides.

http://www.native-languages.org/passamaquoddy.htm Languages of the Passamaquoddy.

http://www.gnb.ca/0016/oralhist.htm A site hosted by New Brunswick about the importance of the oral history of the Wabanaki Confederation.

http://www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/primer.php The Penobscot Primer is an innovative computerized Native American language resource for teaching and research.

Legends and Stories

http://www.wabanaki.com/legends_&_stories.htm Legends and stories of the Wabanaki People.

http://www.umaine.edu/folklife/NF6contents.htm Includes numerous Maliseet and Passamaquoddy tales, including many Gluskap stories, along with other miscellaneous stories.

Videotape Resources: All tapes listed here are available from the Maine State Library, 64 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333--Phone: 287-5620

 

Home, the Story of Maine, Episode 8: People of the Dawn 30 minutes, 2003.  People of the Dawn tells the story of the dynamic people who’ve inhabited the landscape of Maine. The first and longest lasting period of Maine’s history is the world of the Native American, stretching from the retreat of the last Ice Age, 12,000 years to the present.

  Abenaki: The Native People of Maine (7-12) 30 minutes, 1986. A portrait of the four Maine Native Tribes, describes their persistence within the American society. Through personal reminiscences and narration, the program explores the historical, economic, cultural, and spiritual factors that have aided in their survival.

 

Mi’kmaq (6-12) five programs, 120 minutes total, 1986. Depicts the material culture of Micmac Indians before the arrival of Europeans by dramatizing the seasonal round of an ancient Mi’kmaq family.

 

Native Americans (4-8) three programs, 20 minutes each, 1983. This series helps students understand the origin of American Indians, their diversity, and the effect on the Indians of the coming of Europeans. The programs are based on geological, archaeological, and historic evidence, and give students an understanding of how these skills are combined to recreate the past. The series does not focus on Maine’s tribes.

Wabanaki: A New Dawn (4-12) 30 minutes, 1996. Shows the quest for cultural survival by today’s Wabanaki People. 

Eagle Rising (4-12) 25 minutes, 1999. An interesting look at the demand for eagle feathers, parts, and pieces for Native American culture and religion. How the US Fish and Wildlife Service regulates trade in eagle parts and tries to fulfill requests by maintaining a feather “bank.”

Four Perspectives: The Maine Indian Land Claims Case (9-12) 60 minutes, 1977. Four humanists discuss the sociological, legal, philosophical, and cultural background of the land claims case.

In and Out of Maine #1 (7-12) 30 minutes, 1976. Allows Natives and newcomers to examine their communities in a quiet, understated manner.

Maine Field Trips #14 (5-10) 15 minutes, 1986. Early Man in Maine …

 

Provided by the Down East Educational Partnership www.teachdeep.org