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Americans Who Tell the Truth: Rivera Sun 5.4.25

On Sunday, May 4, at the Bay School in Blue Hill, ME, artist Robert Shetterly unveiled his most recent portrait: Rivera Sun. This is the 276th addition to the Americans Who Tell The Truth project, whose subjects include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Jones, Cesar Chavez, and others. At this celebratory unveiling, artist Rob Shetterly, previous portrait subject Sherri Mitchell – Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset and Rivera Sun all offered remarks. Recorded by Matt Murphy.

You can also watch a video of the event here.

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WERU Wabanaki Windows 8.27.24

Wabanaki Windows is a monthly community radio public affairs program, hosted by Donna Loring, Penobscot Indian Nation Tribal Elder. In this episode Donna and her guests explore Blood Quantum and the influence it has played in the development of Tribal Communities, membership numbers, and their very identities. This is a highly controversial subject, and this program is but one in a series that thoroughly addresses the subject.

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WERU Maine Monitor Radio Hour 12.5.24

The Maine Monitor Radio Hour is a public affairs program that airs monthly on WERU Community Radio, in collaboration with The Maine Monitor (a publication of the nonprofit Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting). In this episode, Monitor environmental reporter Emmett Gartner joins host Kate Cough (Maine Monitor Editor) to talk about his recent series on dams in Maine and how they will fare in a changing climate.

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A League of Women Voters Presentation: Penobscot Nation Ambassador Maulian Dana on Decolonizing Thanksgiving

Recorded by Linda Washburn
Lightly edited by Amy Browne

NOTE: There is some noise near the microphone in the first minute or two of the recording – bear with us as the audio quality does improve significantly when Ambassador Dana begins speaking.

From the program description:

We look at the Thanksgiving holiday through Native American eyes. History has always been written by the winners — those who feel that they have won the right to portray that history in a light that waters down the consequences of their ‘winning’. However, by unpacking the truth we can all reach a place of better understanding and humanity.

Maulian Dana serves as the appointed Tribal Ambassador of the Penobscot Nation where she grew up and now raises her two daughters. The Ambassador role functions as the government relations position of the nation and assists the Chief with matters in local, state, and federal government. Her biggest accomplishment in her first term was her role in the new Maine laws banning Indian mascots in Maine Public Schools and Universities along with replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in Maine. Maulian was an elected Tribal Council member before being appointed as Ambassador and is a 2006 graduate of the University of Maine Orono where she earned a BA in Political Science. In addition to her important day job, she also loves being a mother, writer, activist, dog-mom, and reads a lot of books.

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Reggie Harris Benefit Concert – June 29, 2019

Recorded by Matt Murphy

To benefit the making of the film Robert Shetterly: An American Who Tells the Truth, by Kane Lewis Productions of Sedgwick, this concert was held June 29, 2019 at the Blue Hill Town Hall, Maine, at 7pm, featuring Reggie Harris singer/social activist. Shetterly painted Harris’ portrait as a model of courageous citizenship. In addition to Reggie Harris’ performance, Shetterly and Harris held a public discussion about the Power of Art to Advance and Engage Social Activism. Pastor Elaine Hewes welcomed the audience with a “testimonial” poem about peacemaker/cellist Vedran Smailovic who played Albinoni’s “Adagio in G Minor” for 22 days on the shattered streets of Sarajevo, one day in memory of each of those recently killed in that civil war. The event was co-sponsored by the Union of Maine Visual Artists, WERU Community Radio, Americans Who Tell the Truth, Reversing Falls Sanctuary, Peninsula Peace & Justice, and Island Peace & Justice.

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“Connecting Our Struggles: Corporations or Communities?” – full, unedited recording

On 5/29/19, a panel of Maine-based activists spoke in Belfast at an event called “Connecting Our Struggles: Corporations or Communities?” Panelists Nickie Sekera of Community Water Justice; Matt Wagner of No to NECEC; Ellie Daniels of Local Citizens for SMART Growth; and John Banks, Natural Resources Director for the Penobscot Nation, talked about tensions between corporate interests and efforts to protect and preserve communities. This is a full, unedited recording recorded by Meredith DeFrancesco.

Part 1 aired on Maine Currents and is available here
Part 2 aired on RadioActive and is available here

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