Teachers invited to workshops on Penobscot Nation Culture

INDIAN ISLAND – For Maine kindergarten through grade 12 educators, the Penobscot Nation’s Cultural and Historic Preservation Department will host two workshops titled “Teach the Teachers: Maine Indian History & Culture LD291.” The workshops will take place Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Penobscot Nation reservation on Indian Island.

The workshops are designed to assist Maine educators with incorporating Maine Indian history and culture into their classrooms, to identify historically accurate and culturally appropriate classroom resources, and to help foster continuing relationships between Maine educators and the Penobscot Nation Cultural and Historic Preservation Department.

Since 2002, Maine kindergarten through grade 12 educators have been required to include Maine Indian history and culture in their classrooms. The Maine Indian History and Culture Law, more commonly referred to by its 2001 legislative document number, LD 291, was presented to the Legislature by former Penobscot tribal representative Donna Loring. Loring expressed the need for such a bill, stating, “Through education comes understanding. From understanding, comes respect.” The requirement has recently been added to the Maine Learning Results, which were updated in fall 2007.

The Penobscot Nation Cultural and Historic Preservation Department has been active since passage of the bill, providing educational resources, designing curriculum kits, classroom presentations and teacher professional development workshops. This is the second year that the department has hosted workshops.

The workshop fee is $25 per person, which includes lunch. Space is limited. To preregister or for more information, e-mail penobscotresources@yahoo.com or call 817-7477.