Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an important moment for us to pause and reflect on the histories, cultures, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples, especially the Wabanaki Nations of Maine: the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Mi’kmaq Nation, on whose ancestral lands our university is located. This day is a reminder not only of the legacies of these nations, but also of their strength and resilience in the face of centuries of subjugation.
At UMA, honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not simply an act of remembrance. It is also a commitment to learning, to dialogue, and to action. As a university, we have a responsibility to create space for Indigenous voices, perspectives, and knowledge systems within our classrooms, scholarship, and community partnerships. Our work is stronger, and our community is richer, when we uphold fairness, cultivate belonging, and recognize our shared responsibility to one another.
We encourage each of you to use this day as an opportunity to engage more deeply with Indigenous experiences and contributions. Across Maine, there are opportunities to attend events, listen to speakers, read works by Indigenous authors, and join conversations on issues such as cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous rights. Even small acts of participation and reflection contribute to a broader movement of respect and reconciliation.
This day challenges us to move beyond commemoration, carrying its lessons into the ways we teach, collaborate, and serve. In doing so, we strengthen our community and contribute to a more just and thoughtful society.
Learn, Listen, and Take Part
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is one moment in an ongoing journey of learning and respect. We invite you to explore the following resources as ways to listen, learn, and take meaningful steps toward understanding and solidarity.
Local Events
- Visit the Abbe Museum in downtown Bar Harbor on Monday, 10/13, for an Inter-Tribal drum group performance by Rez Dogs drums for Indigenous Peoples Day.
- Visit the Portland Museum of Art on Monday, 10/13, for the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Open House – Free admission for all!
- The Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission (MITSC) invites everyone to the audiobook launch of SEA RUN, authored by Dr. Anthony (Tony) Sutton and Judd Esty-Kendall, Esq., at their event on Monday, 10/13, at the Veazie Salmon Club, the site of a key dam removal on the Penobscot River.
- The University of Maine at Farmington invites public to annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lunch and Film Screening on Tuesday, 10/14.
Learning Resources
- Explore “13 Books by Native Authors to Add to Your 2025 Reading List” by CulturalSurvival.org.
- To learn more about and contribute to the spirit of the day, check out the 2022 Native-led non-profit Wabanaki Reach’s truth telling initiative that addresses Maine Indian land claims through oral history.
- Watch this webinar on Indigenous Voices in the Outdoors by Rethink Outside™ and the First Nations Development Institute.
- Explore the documentary film Voices from the Barrens, Native People, Blueberries and Sovereignty and request a screening.
Recommended Videos from the Sunlight Media Collective
The Sunlight Media Collective is an organization of Indigenous and non-Indigenous media makers and activists, including Wabanaki tribal members, working to document and present stories affecting Wabanaki people and highlighting Wabanaki perspectives, with a particular emphasis on the intersection between environmental issues and tribal rights.
The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory (45 min)
The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory traverses the landscape of deal-making and deal-breaking which has historically defined tribal-state relations in Maine. Spanning from the 1700’s to the present-day legal battle being played out in Penobscot Nation v. Mills, the film illustrates the history of Penobscots’ tenacious fight to retain their territory and their inherent, treaty-reserved sustenance fishing rights for future generations. The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory features the Penobscot people’s traditional, centuries-long stewardship to ensure a healthy ecosystem for all of Maine. It tells the urgent, inspiring story of a struggle for justice and cultural survival in the face of an astonishingly open abuse of state power.
The Saga Continues (7 min)
The Saga Continues is an August 2021 update to the Penobscot River case written by Maria Girouard (Penobscot Nation), a historian with a particular interest and expertise in Maine Indian Land Claims.