Episode 55: Honoring Tradition and Building Bridges: Art and Wellness in Maine with Amy Hausmann  

This week on Aunties on Air, we sit down with Amy Hausmann, Executive Director of the Maine Arts Commission, to explore how creativity serves as a vital tool for personal and collective wellness. From her roots curating public art for the New York MTA to the Commission’s active, healing initiatives for communities across the state of Maine, Amy shares how art builds a bridge through isolation and grief. Please join us in this conversation to discuss the raw power of art and craft traditions in the journey of personal healing! 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Amy Hausmann - https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/General/Staff-Bios 

Maine Arts Commission - https://mainearts.maine.gov/ 

New York City MTA - https://www.mta.info/ 

Saco Bay, Maine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saco_Bay 

Richmond, Maine - https://www.richmondmaine.com/ 

New England Foundation for the Arts - https://www.nefa.org/ 

Katahdin Woods and Waters - https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm 

Tekakapimek - https://www.friendsofkww.org/tekakapimek/ 

Baxter State Park - https://baxterstatepark.org/ 

Millinocket, Maine - https://millinocket.org/ 

Arts and Health Convening, Brunswick Maine - https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Programs/Arts-and-Health-Convening 

National Endowments for the Arts statistic - https://www.arts.gov/impact/research/publications/50-states-arts-participation-2022-geographical-analysis-results-survey-public-participation-arts 

Gabriel Frey collaboration with Manitobah - https://www.manitobah.com/collections/gabriel-frey-collection?srsltid=AU7gw4WQdTw_dzk8AA_fRQSpHkgM9tMbaatPZYcbf6XvgGj1XJvBGex_ 

Maine Creates - https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Programs/MaineCreates 

Side x Side in Portland, Maine - https://sidexsideme.com/ 

Guildford Library in Guildford, Maine - https://www.guilfordmemoriallibrary.org/ 

Shared Tables, Shared Stories Potluck Dinners - https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Programs/Shared-Tables-Shared-Stories 

Biddeford, Maine - https://www.biddefordmaine.org/ 

Georgia resolution recognizing the impact of creativity and artmaking on mental health - https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1927581 

Maine Crafts Association - https://mainecrafts.org/ 

United Nations General Assembly in New York City - https://www.un.org/en/ga/ 

Daisy Fancourt, “The Art Cure” - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250364531/artcure/ 

Jeremy Frey - https://jeremyfreybaskets.com/ 

James Francis - https://umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/wabanaki-artist-directory/james-francis/ 

Jennifer Neptune - https://www.jenniferneptune.com/ 

Sarah Sockbeson - https://www.sarahsockbeson.com/ 

Hudson Museum - https://umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/ 

The Abbe Museum - https://www.abbemuseum.org/ 

College of the Atlantic - https://www.coa.edu/ 

Randall Liberty - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/about/cabinet/liberty 

Maine Department of Corrections - https://www.maine.gov/corrections/ 

Women’s Corrections Facility in Windham, Maine - https://www.maine.gov/corrections/womenscenter 

Maine State House, “Arts from the Inside” exhibition - https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Programs/Art-from-the-Inside-Virtual-Gallery 

Veterans' art exhibition submission form - https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Services/Veteran-Artist-Resources 

New Jersey State Art’s Council - https://nj.gov/state/njsca/ 

Madeline Tiger Bass - https://madelinetiger.wordpress.com/about/ 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - https://www.metmuseum.org/ 

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Amy Hausmann

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Episode 54: Weaving, Healing and Resilience with Jeremy Frey

For generations, our ancestors have woven our stories, our history, and our relationship to the land into the physical fibers of the earth. In a world that often tries to compartmentalize Indigenous art as a relic of the past, our artists are proving that our traditions are living, breathing, and contemporary. Today, we are joined by world-renowned Wabanaki basket maker Jeremy Frey. We dive into how the simple, sacred act of weaving serves as a powerful vessel for personal recovery, cultural preservation, and sovereign expression in the face of rapid ecological change. 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Jeremy Frey - https://jeremyfreybaskets.com/ 

Jeremy Frey’s Exhibit at Standford University - https://museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions/jeremy-frey-woven-0 

Standford University - https://www.stanford.edu/ 

Emerald Ash Borer - https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/invertebrates/emerald-ash-borer 

Santa Fe Indian Market - https://www.swaia.org/ 

Dawnland Festival - https://www.abbemuseum.org/dawnland-festival 

“Woven” by Jeremy Frey - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0847899705?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

Portland Museum of Art - https://www.portlandmuseum.org/ 

Ramey Mize - https://www.portlandmuseum.org/magazine/ramey-mize/ 

Jeremy Frey at Portland Museum of Art show - https://www.portlandmuseum.org/exhibitions/jeremy-frey-woven/ 

Jeremy Frey, at Art Institute of Chicago - https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10212/jeremy-frey-woven 

Jeremy Frey at The Met 2023 - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/905840 

Jeremy Frey at The Met 2024 - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/909323 

McArthur Genius Grant - https://www.macfound.org/fellows/class-of-2025/jeremy-frey 

Ann Mitchell - https://www.dreamweaverbasketry.net/ 

Akwesasne - https://akwesasne.travel/ 

Caleb Hoffman - https://www.instagram.com/chbaskets/ 

Gabriel Frey - https://www.gabrielfrey.com/ 

Sylvia Gabriel - https://www.abbemuseum.org/blog/2011/03/gabriel-women-family-tradition.html 

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Jeremy Frey

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

REPLAY: Thanks to Our Animals: Honoring the Sacred Gifts of Mother Earth

Join us in re-listening to this special episode with John Neptune and Andrea Sockabasin! This episode originally aired last fall and centered around talking about all things sustenance. Aunties on Air wanted to highlight that whether you are a hunter, medicine collector or vegetarian, we believe that you would hear stories that would warm your heart as we entered in to a new, cooler season. We wanted to also remind our listeners of that fact that Wabanaki people have lived in harmony with Mother Earth and all of her gifts for thousands of years and we wished to share these stories of harmony. Please sit back, relax and take in all things abundant and nutritious! 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:

Rutting Moon - https://nadeerhunter.com/moon-phase-whitetail-rut/

Maliseet Nation - https://maliseets.net/about/

Food sovereignty - https://usfoodsovereigntyalliance.org/what-is-food-sovereignty/

Strawberry Moon - https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-june

3 Sisters Garden (Botanical Gardens) - https://www.facebook.com/MaineGardens/posts/our-three-sisters-garden-created-in-partnership-with-wabanaki-public-health-well/912072767616667/

Dr. Sylvia Torti - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Torti

Good Shepard Food Bank - https://www.gsfb.org/

Cassius Spears - https://www.nationalconservationfoundation.org/cassius-spears/

Martha’s Vineyard - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha%27s_Vineyard

Dawnland Festival - https://www.abbemuseum.org/dawnland-festival

Allen Sockabasin, “Thanks to the Animals” - https://www.amazon.com/Thanks-Animals-Anniversary-Allen-Sockabasin/dp/0884484149

PFAS - https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained

Oren Lyons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oren_Lyons

Onondaga Nation - https://www.onondaganation.org/

Miss Maine Basketball - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Maine_Basketball

Cooper Flagg - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Flagg

Jerry Pardilla - https://acf.gov/ocs/about/bio/jerry-pardilla

USET - https://www.usetinc.org/

Ann Pardilla - Ann Pardilla was born in Old Town, Maine (to a Penobscot mother and a Kiowa father) and grew up on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation. Ann later travelled the world with her husband George Pardilla and their six children throughout his time in the military. Upon returning to Old Town, Maine in the 1970’s, Ann went to work serving her community as a tribal council member as well as Vice Chief for Penobscot Nation.

Melvin Francis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvin_Francis

Controlled Burns - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_burn

Barry Dana - https://umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/barry-dana/

Andrea's Moose Chilli Recipe: 

Makes 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

2 lbs moose burger

1 green pepper – diced

1 red pepper – diced

2 medium onion – diced

4 cloves of garlic – minced

1 TBSP onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp chili powder (feel free to adjust according to heat preference)

2 – 29 oz can of tomato sauce

2 14 oz can of kidney beans – drained and rinsed

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: 2 jalapeno peppers – seeded and finely chopped

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground moose burger and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until no longer pink. Add the diced peppers, onions and garlic and cook, stirring until thoroughly mixed.

Once the moose burger has browned, add the tomato sauce, kidney beans, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder. Cook on medium-high heat until just starting to boil. Then reduce heat to low-medium and cover and simmer for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. 

Serve, add your favorite topping and enjoy!

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township  Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik  Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation  Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guests: John Neptune, Andrea Sockabasin

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Flanders

REPLAY: When Leaders Lead with Love, We Heal

Join us in re-listening to this special episode with Commissioner of Corrections for the state of Maine, Randy Liberty. This episode originally aired this past spring and focused on how leadership is essential for healing, highlighting that the way we lead can be either harmful or deeply meaningful and healing for all involved. Auntie Macy opens the show with a new introduction, talking about Randy's book, "Liberty's Prison", the conversation the Aunties had about his dog, Bosco and all of the wonderful work he has done in order to reduce food insecurity across the state with the help of the residents of the Maine State Prison tending to the gardens at the facility. Please enjoy hearing the lessons and stories Randy has to share!  

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Randy Liberty - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/about/cabinet/liberty

“Liberty’s Prison” by Randy Liberty - https://www.amazon.com/Libertys-Prison-Radically-Reformed-American/dp/B0F941CFY3

Randy on “207” -  https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/local/207/207-february-12-2026/97-347e7448-6142-43e9-adaf-617a5e6e2271

Maine Criminal Justice Academy - https://www.maine.gov/dps/mcja

Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/

Maine Compost School - https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-compost-school/

AIO, Rockland Food Pantry - https://www.aiofoodpantry.org/

USDA - https://www.usda.gov/

Togus VA - https://www.va.gov/maine-health-care/locations/togus-va-medical-center/

Colby College - https://www.colby.edu/

National Suicide and Crisis Number, Press 1 for VA- 988

Wabanaki Careline – 1-844-844-2622

CAP Agency, Maine - https://mecap.org/

Ellsworth, Maine - https://www.ellsworthmaine.gov/

Kennebeck County, Maine - https://kennebec.gov/

Department of Corrections - https://www.maine.gov/corrections/

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Randy Liberty

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

REPLAY:  "Leaning into Learning": Storytelling in Many Forms

Join us in re-listening to this special episode with Mike Sockabasin, which originally aired last fall as part of our "Leaning into Learning" series. This series provided a deeper look at the hard work some of our very own Wabanaki artists, creatives and historical documenters have been taking part in throughout their careers. Uncle Gavin opens this special episode with a new introduction, reflecting on our time spent with Mike, as well as his thoughts behind choosing to share this episode again. Enjoy hearing from Mike Sockabasin again as he talks with our Aunties about Storytelling, film, filmmaking and his journey in discovering his passion for his work! 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:

Mike Sockabasin - https://www.instagram.com/mikesockabasin/?hl=en

Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians - https://maliseets.net/

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - https://www.mainegardens.org/

Ice Caves - https://mainebyfoot.com/ice-caves-debsconeag-lakes-wilderness-area/

Thanksgiving Holiday History - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2022/11/23/thanksgiving-from-an-indigenous-perspective/

Motahkomikuk - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passamaquoddy_Indian_Township_Reservation

Dwayne Tomah - https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/t/to-tz/dwayne-tomah/

Dwayne Tomah, Wax Cylinders - https://passamaquoddypeople.com/language/passamaquoddy

PBS, Wax Cylinder Project Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EENc_P6rHz4

“Lord of the Rings” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(film_series)

EMCC, CAD Program - https://www.emcc.edu/academics/programs/programs-of-study/building-construction/

Lost Kitchen - https://findthelostkitchen.com/pages/watch

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township  Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik  Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation  Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guests: Mike Sockabasin

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

REPLAY: "For the Love of" Our Sacred Medicines

Join us in re-listening to this special episode with Robin Wall Kimmerer, award winning author, citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, mother, scholar, scientist, and a giver of knowledge. Auntie Lisa opens this special episode with a new introduction, reflecting on our time spent with Robin! Originally part of our "For the Love of" series in February, this episode is centered on our sacred medicines as the Aunties dive deep into conversation with Robin, highlighting the love and abundance mother earth provides. Please sit back, enjoy and take in the lessons that Robin is so talented in sharing with us! 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/

“Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/p/books/braiding-sweetgrass-indigenous-wisdom-scientific-knowledge-and-the-teachings-of-plants-robin-wall-kimmerer/6fa4d296293d20e8?ean=9781571313560&next=t

Carlisle Indian School - https://www.npca.org/parks/carlisle-federal-indian-boarding-school-national-monument

“The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-serviceberry-abundance-and-reciprocity-in-the-natural-world-robin-wall-kimmerer/11103aae5b752d02?aid=86677&ean=9781668072240&listref=robin-wall-kimmerer&next=t

“The First Blade of Sweetgrass” by Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey - https://www.amazon.com/First-Blade-Sweetgrass-Suzanne-Greenlaw/dp/0884487601

Monique Smith - https://wordfest.com/artist/monique-gray-smith/

“Bud Finds Her Gift” by Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://bookshop.org/p/books/bud-finds-her-gift-robin-wall-kimmerer/615a02894e9290a1?aid=86677&ean=9780063324428&listref=robin-wall-kimmerer&next=t

The Briar Patch - https://briarpatchbooks.square.site/

Plant Baby Plant - https://plantbabyplant.com/

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Robin Wall Kimmerer

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Flanders

Episode 53: Honoring the Land and Building the Future: A Conversation Around CDFI's 

We took Aunties on Air to the big stage for our first-ever LIVE podcast recording! Auntie Lisa sat down in front of a crowd of over 300 incredible people at the Oweesta Convening for an unforgettable conversation with Hope Huskey and James Francis. But we didn’t stop there. Auntie Lisa also caught up with folks throughout the convening to dive into their backgrounds, their impactful work with CDFIs, and what it was like experiencing Wabanaki territory (many for the very first time!). Thank you to Oweesta for hosting us, and to everyone who sat down to share their story! Be sure to tune in this week, you won't want to miss it! 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Oweesta - https://www.oweesta.org/

Cross Insurance Center - https://www.crossinsurancecenter.com/

Chrystel Cornelius - https://www.oweesta.org/about_oweesta/our-team/chrystel-cornelius/

Cherokee Nation - https://www.cherokee.org/

Oneida Nation - https://oneida-nsn.gov/

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa - https://tmchippewa.com/

Ojibwe - https://ojibwe.net/

MMIW - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women

Cherokee, North Carolina - https://visitcherokeenc.com/

Authentically Cherokee - https://authenticallycherokee.com/

Sequoyah Fund - https://www.sequoyahfund.org/

University of Maine - https://umaine.edu/

Gerald Sherman - https://www.indigenousimpact.co/gerald-sherman

Pine Ridge, South Dakota - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Ridge,_South_Dakota

Bearcreek, Montana - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearcreek,_Montana

O’ahu, Hawaii - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%CA%BBahu

Hawaiian Monk Seal story - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/27/igor-lytvynchuk-rock-hawaiian-monk-seal

Jason “Firefly” Brown - https://www.fireflythehybrid.com/about

Turtle Island Community Capital - https://turtleislandcommunitycapital.org/

Wisconsin Native Loan Fund - https://www.winlf.org/

Menominee Nation - https://www.menominee-nsn.gov/

Crafts from the Bay - https://www.facebook.com/p/Crafts-From-The-Bay-100068095383910/

Sokolaponsis Designs - https://sokolaponsisdesigns.com/

Spruce Root - https://spruceroot.org/

Prince Edward Island - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island

Woliwon Vendors:  

Sokolaponsis Designs - [email protected] - sokolaponsisdesigns.com – Sokolaponsis Designs

Wiphulakson - Wiphulakson 

Wooden Way Creations - [email protected] - Woodenwaycreations.com

End of The Trail Studio - [email protected] - Maliseet Inspired Native Artwork | End of the Trail

Sandra's baskets & more - [email protected]

Bonnie's Native Jewelry - [email protected] - Facebook

Dina & Co. - [email protected] - Facebook

People of the Dawn Apothecary - [email protected]

Lone Bear's Arts - [email protected] - Lone Bear's Arts

Crafts From the Bay - [email protected] - Facebook

Mac King - [email protected] - Instagram

Penawapskewi Designs - Home | Penawapskewi Designs

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Hope Huskey, James Francis, Various Guests

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Episode 52: MMIW: Indigenous Sovereignty and Healing with Lyla June

Our ancestors understood that the health of the land is directly tied to the safety and sacredness of our women and relatives. In a system built on extraction, both our earth, our sisters and our relatives have faced deep violence. Today, we are continuing our focus on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis by welcoming Lyla June Johnston to our studio. This conversation explores how reclaiming our traditional food systems, land sovereignty, and ancestral wisdom serves as the greatest protective shield and path toward collective healing.

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Lyla June Johnston - https://www.lylajune.com/

Diné - https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/

Cheyenne - https://www.cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov/

Anadarko, Oklahoma - https://www.cityofanadarko.org/

Native Women by Lyla June - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWPXVbarjqM

Ahupua’a Water Systems - https://www.nationofhawaii.org/ahupuaa/

Time Traveler by Lyla June - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulK_GE9XjO8

Desirae Harp - https://mesarefuge.org/person/desirae-harp/

Emergence Magazine - https://emergencemagazine.org/

Robin Wall Kimmerer - https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/

Plant, Baby, Plant - https://plantbabyplant.com/

Choctaw Nation - https://www.choctawnation.com/

Haudenosaunee - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haudenosaunee

Jared Diamond - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Diamond

Norsemen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norsemen

Desmond Tutu - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu

Standford University - https://www.stanford.edu/

All Nations Rise by Lyla June - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr2VLI8jKww

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Lyla June Johnston

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Episode 51: MMIW: Healing Through Taking Space

In Wabanaki territory and across Turtle Island, our women, girls and two-spirit relatives are the heart of our nations. They carry our stories, our languages, and our future. Yet, the painful reality of the MMIW crisis continues to affect our families and communities deeply. This week, we welcome back a very familiar voice and longtime advocate to the studio, our former Aunties co-host, Lauren Stevens. Together, the Aunties sit down with Lauren for a deeply necessary conversation about grief, resilience, and reclaiming our narrative. We dive into the profound medicine of speaking our stolen relations' names out loud, ensuring they are never made invisible by the systems around us. Lauren shares how utilizing the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) network provides critical, proactive support to keep our people whole and protect our collective spirit before crisis even begins. This is an episode about taking up space, raising our voices, and anchoring ourselves in cultural traditions. True healing happens when we center our Wabanaki values, look out for one another, and refuse to be silenced. 

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

MMIW - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women

Salt Bay Chamberfest - https://saltbaychamberfest.org/

Dawn Avery - https://www.dawnavery.com/

Wilhelmina Smith - https://www.wilhelminasmith.com/

We Are Water - https://portlandovations.org/event/we-are-water-a-northeast-celebration/

Yo-Yo Ma - https://www.yo-yoma.com/

Rodger Paul - https://umaine.edu/nativeamericanprograms/people/rogerpaul/

Chris Newell - https://www.nefa.org/chris-newell

Mali Obomsawin - https://www.maliobomsawin.com/

Jeremy Dutcher - https://jeremydutcher.com/

Andri Magnason - https://andrimagnason.com/

MMIW Poem by Feather Mason-Delorme - https://poetryinvoice.ca/write/monthly-poem-prize/winning-poems/mmiw-poem

UNITY - https://unityinc.org/

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Lauren Stevens 

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs

Episode 50: MMIW: Healing Through Policy

In Wabanaki territory, our women are the heart of our nations. They are the givers of life, the keepers of culture, and the protectors of our future. Yet, for too long, our sisters have been made invisible by systems that fail to see their worth. Today, we are opening a three-part series on our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) with Maulian Bryant. This is a conversation about love, grief, justice, and the sovereign right to live in safety.

Wabanaki Words Used:

Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) - https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc

Topics Discussed:  

Maulian Bryant - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maulian_Bryant

MMIW - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_and_Murdered_Indigenous_Women

Oh, Grow Up! - https://www.facebook.com/ohgrowupbangor/

The Rock and Art Shop - https://www.therockandartshop.com/bangor

Donna Loring - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_M._Loring

Peter Pan (1953) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Pan_(1953_film)

1980’s Settlement Act - https://www.mitsc.org/mitsc-narrative-summaries/summary-of-the-maine-indian-land-claims-act-of-1980

VAWA - VAWA Information

Janet Mills - https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/

Troy Jackson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Jackson_(politician)

Mike Carpenter - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Carpenter

Sara Gideon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Gideon

Rachel Talbot Ross - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Talbot_Ross

Chellie Pingree - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chellie_Pingree

Mike Simpson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Simpson

IHS - https://www.ihs.gov/

BIA - https://www.bia.gov/

Abigail Echo-Hawk - https://aascu.org/people/abigail-echo-hawk/

Holly Echo-Hawk - https://kauffmaninc.com/team/holly-echo-hawk/

Beverley Polchies - https://darkdowneast.com/beverlypolchies/

Woodstock, First Nations - https://labrc.com/first-nation/woodstock/

Dark Downeast - https://darkdowneast.com/

Wabanaki Alliance - https://wabanakialliance.com/

Harvard Project - https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/

Zeke Crofton-McDonald - https://www.mitsc.org/commissioners-staff/ezekiel-crofton-macdonald

Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute - https://snoweleadershipinstitute.org/

Harvard Project - https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu/

Imelda Perley - https://forcitizenship.ca/people/imelda-perley/

Wabanaki Tribal Nations:

Houlton Band of Maliseet Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)

Mi’kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)

Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk

Passamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)

Penobscot Nation Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine

Special Thanks/Woliwon: 

Guest: Maulian Bryant

Producer: Gavin Allen

Podcast Team: Macy Downs