22
native people is still present in the
state of Maine. However, healing cir-
cles continue in Wabanaki communi-
ties, to facilitate truth-telling and
nurture the healing process. Tribal
members can continue to give state-
ments to the TRC; those will be
added to the rest of the archived
statements at Bowdoin College.
Moving Past Guilt
During the TRC process, REACH
discovered that many European
Americans carry unresolved emotions
about this history, especially when
they realize the scope of violence
against native people and how little
these abuses have been discussed.
REACH developed a one-day "Ally
Workshop" to provide a safe space for
participants to process these emotions,
so they might become more effective
and useful allies.
These workshops focus on white
privilege, micro aggressions, historical
context, the Ally Bill of Responsibili-
ties, intergenerational trauma and how
to understand their own cultural con-
ditioning. Using these topics,
REACH helps European Americans
move past guilt and shame, and chan-
nel their energy toward action, as
directed by Wabanaki peoples.
Following the workshop, allies have
gone on to share what they've learned
with members of their families and
communities. They support the
Wabanaki by testifying at legislative
hearings, organizing educational
events like films and discussion, and
supporting Wabanaki peoples with
current environmental, sovereignty
and justice issues through letter writ-
ing and civil actions. For example, in
the fall of 2015, a REACH ally organ-
ized a campaign to replace Columbus
Day with Indigenous Peoples day in
her town of Belfast, Maine. It passed.
REACH has also organized trainings
for educators, to ensure that schools
teach the truth to the next generation.
Healing and Respect
REACH also facilitates healing cir-
cles with incarcerated native peoples
in Maine. During incarceration,
REACH gives them access to a
library of books written by native
authors to supply culturally signifi-
cant reading. REACH is also devel-
oping welcome home processes to
help native people be integrated back
into their communities. To restore
knowledge and use of native medi-
cines and traditions, as well as revive
native practices in death, dying, mar-
riage and birth, REACH has created
health and wellness conferences.
Workshops have been organized
using art and healing, movement,
drama and a host of other alternative
healing modalities.
The Maine TRC is unique as a
truth commission that formed at the
grassroots level, and then received the
cooperation of both state and tribal
governments. The work of Maine-
Wabanaki REACH is nothing less
than the transformation of hearts and
minds among the people of Maine,
both non-native and Wabanaki.
Institutional violence and this his-
tory we share has been painfully invisi-
ble to most Americans. The TRC and
REACH's goals of truth, healing and
change are the roadmap for finally
bringing this to an end. We have a
long way to go for the transformation
of 500 years of history, but the healing
has begun.
Arla Patch is the former community
engagement coordinator for Maine–
Wabanaki REACH.
Notes
1. "Atrocities Against Native Americans," United to
End Genocide, Washington, DC; http://endgeno-
cide.org/learn/past-genocides/native-americans;
accessed December 16, 2015.
2. Abbe Museum, "Phipps Proclamation, 1755,"
Wabanaki Timeline (web page) (Bar Harbor, ME:
Abbe Museum, 2012);
http://abbemuseum.org/research/wabanaki/time-
line/proclamation.html.
3. Richard H. Pratt, "The Advantages of Mingling
Indians with Whites," Americanizing the American
Indians: Writings by the "Friends of the Indian"
1880–1900 (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press, 1973), 260–271.
Beyond the Mandate:
Continuing the Conversation
www.mainewabanakitrc.org/
wp-content/uploads/2015/06/
MaineWabanaki-StateTRC-
Report_061415a-opt.pdf
The full report of the Maine
Wabanaki–State Child Welfare
Truth & Reconciliation Commission includes sections on
what happened and why, as well as recommendations for
addressing the injustices.
Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered Families
www.npr.org/series/141763531/native-foster-care-lost-
children-shattered-families
A 2005 government audit of the Indian Child Welfare Act
showed that 32 states were falling short in some way at
involving tribes in decisions about the welfare of native
children.* This NPR series looks at the issue of cultural
violence against native people in South Dakota, showing
that it happened not just in Maine and that it has not ended.
*United States Government Accountability Office, Report to
Congressional Requesters: Indian Child Welfare Act, April 2005, 51;
www.gao.gov/new.items/d05290.pdf.
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