A Wabanaki woman fulfills a vision to connect with her ancestors on a Maine island and, when finally there, encounters a sign– and that’s where it all begins.
“The Sign Speaks Volumes” – Islands and Erasure Narratives
Save the Date! First Light Summit
We are excited to announce the first-ever First Light Summit, happening this October at the Penobscot Theater in Bangor. The Summit is an opportunity to gather together as a community and continue the work of relearning history, recentering Indigenous voices,
Passamaquoddy Nation Celebrates the Return of Kuwesuwi Monihq on the Summer Solstice
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
Providing Testimony to House Natural Resources Committee
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.
Medicine for Each Other? A conversation between Wabanaki and non-Wabanaki about the possibility of healing
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
Conversation between the Conservation Community Delegation and the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship about land conservation entities and tools
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
First Light Benefit Concert for Indigenous-Led Land Return featuring Lula Wiles
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,
LandBack: Passamaquoddy Tribe Reacquires Culturally Significant 140-Acres of Island in Kci Monosakom (Big Lake), Maine
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
Conversation with Attorneys involved in Land Conservation around Maine
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
Wabanaki Field Trips to AMC land to assess harvesting opportunities
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