Artist, educator, and former Chief of the Penobscot Nation Barry Dana visits campus

Students in Waynflete’s 2-3 program have been focusing on the Wabanaki of Maine and will continue to do so throughout November. Their study is enhanced by guests from the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Micmac, and Maliseet tribes. We were lucky to recently welcome Barry Dana on campus. Barry is an artist, educator, and former Chief of the Penobscot Nation. Barry brought with him a replica of a traditional birchbark wigwam as well as many examples of artifacts from Penobscot culture. Students had a chance to meet with him and ask him questions about the Penobscot from long ago as well as about the Penobscot people of today.

Barry also met with seventh graders, who are launching their own study of indigenous peoples. Grade 7 research projects will focus this year on land removal, cultural genocide, and efforts towards reconciliation and cultural revitalization.