Relearning, recentering, returning at the speed of trust.
One year ago, the island Kuwesuwi Monihq was returned to the Passamaquoddy people. This summer solstice, people gathered at Peter Dana Point, and on Kuwesuwi Monihq, for drumming and a pipe ceremony to celebrate the return of this place. First
Peter Forbes, First Light catalyst, provided testimony to the House Natural Resources Committee for their hearing on “Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Policy Making” on Tuesday, February 8 2022. You can read his remarks here: Peter Forbes Testimony.
On the Fall Equinox, September 22nd, 2021, Kyle Lolar (Penobscot) and Peter Forbes (non-native) facilitated a conversation amongst 18 Native and non-native healers, elders, and young people about how we can become medicine for each other in a world of
In June, members of the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship requested that First Light organize a conversation for Commission members and others to learn more about land trusts, what they are and how they work, and more about the
In an effort to show solidarity for emerging Indigenous-led land return efforts in the Northeast, First Light leveraged its network to raise money to directly support 4 organizations: Bomazeen Land Trust, Native Land Conservancy, Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust,
Motahkomikuk (Indian Township), Maine – On March 12, 2021, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk (Indian Township) reacquired 140 acres of their unceded Ancestral territory – the largest island in Kci Monosakom, (Big Lake) Maine. Originally known as Kuwesuwi Monihq (Pine
First Light co-facilitator and MCHT Senior Project Manager Ciona Ulbrich was invited by Rob Levin, of the Maine Land Conservation Attorneys Network (MLCAN), to talk to network members about considering changing or using new legal tools to secure and formalize
As a part of the First Light Learning Journey in 2019, Appalachian Mountain Club worked with the Penobscot Nation to begin issuing harvesting permits for brown ash to tribal members free of charge. On May 10th, about 15 Wabanaki people from
Littleton: On March 4, Chief Peter-Paul signed the closing papers to complete the purchase of 90-acre Sunrise Christmas Tree Farm in Littleton by the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. “We are excited to pursue a green and carbon friendly economic venture, it fits
In December, Corey Hinton told 105 participants in First Light Learning Journey that he would “love to see the legislative record for the 130th legislature be as full of support for Tribal positions as the 129th was.”