Henry David Thoreau, author, naturalist and explorer, often was led through unfamiliar Maine territories on his expeditions by members of the Penobscot tribe, including Joseph Attean. In his writing, Thoreau chronicled place names and stories as they were passed on to him and also wrote… Read More
A 2001 Maine state law, An Act to Require Teaching Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine’s Schools, was passed by the Maine Legislature. The law requires teachers to incorporate Maine American Indian history and culture, including information about tribal government, traditions and economic… Read More
Over the years, members of the Penobscot tribe have left Indian Island to pursue educational and career opportunities elsewhere. When they left, a diminished cultural and language foundation remained. The result of this, and the fact that for a long time American Indians were looked… Read More
Like most American Indians in the United States, many Penobscots live on a reservation which belongs to them and is under their control. The Penobscot Nation has its own government, laws, police and other services. The leader of the Penobscots is called “sagama” in the Penobscot language, which… Read More
For the Penobscots, place names are a window into their past and a connection to the way their ancestors saw the land. The names offer geography-, resource- and legend-based descriptions of the land that have been passed on in a variety of ways over time. Place names in… Read More
Conducted in 1820 by Maj. Joseph Treat, it was ordered by Gov. William King who was hoping to claim territory that was under dispute between British North America and the United States. In the survey, Treat relied on the culture, knowledge, and expertise of Penobscot… Read More
This legend previously was written down, but many of the Penobscot legends have never been put into writing and continue to be passed on through the tribe’s strong oral tradition. The stories have been told in different ways by different people over time, but the… Read More
In 1806, the town of Orono named its settlement in honor of Penobscot Indian Nation Chief Joseph Orono. Naming places after people is a European tradition, not something American Indians often, if ever, did. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Of the three design motifs used by the Penobscots – double curves, floral and geometric – double curves are the most prominent. “Double curves are found primarily in beadwork, such as ceremonial collars, and cuffs, and moccasins,” Penobscot Nation historian James Eric Francis said. “[They… Read More
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 was held in Philadelphia to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing there of the Declaration of Independence. Orono’s image is at the base of the fountain errected for the event, along with other Revolutionary War figures. Read More
Birch bark canoes, carefully handcrafted, are one of the most important traditions and skills of the Penobscots. Not only are they magnificent to look at, they provided a means of transportation through Maine’s waterways. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Born on Christmas Day 1829, Joseph Attean is best known as Henry David Thoreau’s personal guide, but also had many other great accomplishments during his life. He was the Penobscots’ first elected chief, although he would have been next in line to take over the… Read More
(c) 2006 BANGOR DAILY NEWS ? REPORTING: AIMEE DOLLOFF ? GRAPHICS AND DESIGN: JON FERLAND, ERIC ZELZ ? PHOTOGRAPHY: GABOR DEGRE ? PHOTO EDITORS: SCOTT HASKELL, JOHN CLARKE RUSS ? HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND LAND CONSULTANTS: PENOBSCOT NATION CULTURAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT, BARRY DANA, CAROL DANA, MAULIAN DANA,… Read More
Originally an oral culture, there was no official Penobscot alphabet until the 1930s, when the late linguist Frank T. Seibert Jr. used the International Phonetic Alphabet – a standardized notation system representing distinctive sounds used in all spoken languages – to devise one. Unlike the 26-letter English alphabet,… Read More
Centuries ago, when ancestors of the Penobscot Indian Nation trekked across the ground that was to become Maine, they gave names to areas based on characteristics or resources of the land and based on Wabanaki legends passed down orally generation after generation. All around Maine… Read More