Wabanaki Studies in Maine Schools

This material represents a continuing collaborative effort between the four nations of the Wabanaki in Maine, Native and non-Native educators, Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission, the Maine Department of Education, and the University of Maine System.  The document and resources are rooted in the early work of the Wabanaki Studies Commission established by the Maine Legislature in 2001.  This website includes suggested learning targets, by grade span, and corresponding resources that are culturally appropriate and support the content in LD 291: An Act to Require Teaching of Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine's Schools and the Wabanaki (Maine Native) Studies component included in Maine’s Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction.  

This website is designed to support K-12 Maine educators in integrating Wabanaki Studies into existing curricula.  While it is most common to find Wabanaki Studies taught in a social studies curriculum, it can be easily integrated into content areas and courses across all grade levels.  Resources included here are not comprehensive or definitive but rather represent high-quality materials that are widely available.  They have been reviewed by cultural experts designated by Wabanaki Tribal leaders and practicing Maine educators.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION: To provide students with a culturally-appropriate learning experience and demonstrate the highest level of respect for the Wabanaki peoples, educators should refrain from engaging in any activity that may infringe upon the spiritual traditions of all Indigenous peoples such as: drumming, smudging, dancing, assigning “native” names to students, recreating sacred ceremonial designs, or making headbands with feathers.

 

 

 

 

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