The Abbe welcomes new intern, Viginia Mellen!

The Abbe is pleased to welcome recent College of the Atlantic graduate, Virginia Mellen, on as an intern this fall. We originally met Virginia while she was working on a project for Friends of Island History. She completed a comprehensive Historical Resource Index Survey, gathering important information from local museums, libraries and historical societies and compiling all that information into a report that is incredibly thorough.

Virginia comes to us with quite an impressive resume. She has worked as a faculty assistant at the College of the Atlantic, an interpretive ranger at Acadia National Park, a co-curator at the Naturalist's Notebook, a researcher at the Bar Harbor Whale Museum and Allied Whale and, most recently, as a lead intern at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Virginia will begin her volunteer work with us doing a marketing survey and helping out in various ways with marketing and development. She will also be working on upcoming exhibits and educational programming development.

We are thrilled to have Virginia on board!

Children’s Workshop with David Moses Bridges

On Saturday, October 26 from 10:00am - 12:00pm, David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, will lead a workshop for children entitled Wikhikonik: Birchbark Maps and Wabanaki Guides. 

When traveling to remote places, Wabanaki guides and other members of the tribes made maps on birchbark to communicate with one another. If separated from your party, you could use a map with a few simple symbols to learn where your party has been, where your party went, and where their final destination would be.These maps were also created to help Europeans travel from one place to another when a guide was unavailable.  In this workshop, plan a journey to one of your favorite places, and learn how to translate that journey onto a wikhikon. Plan a trip on a river near your home, or make up a journey to an imaginary place, and use your wikhikon to tell us about your travels! David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy from Sipayik (Pleasant Point), is an award winning birchbark artist who has received national recognition for his work.  From full-size birchbark canoes to small etched containers, David is a master of his craft and creates both traditional and contemporary pieces. 

This program is free and open to the public. However, space is limited, so please contact Museum Educator George Neptune to reserve a spot in the workshop, george@abbemuseum.org, or (207)288-3519 ext. 31.

Made possible by the support of the Lynam Trust and Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.

Wikhikonik: Birchbark Maps and Wabanaki Guides

A Canoe is Built

Over the course of the past month, experienced birchbark canoe-builders, David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, and Steve Cayard have been working five days a week in the courtyard at the Abbe to build a 14’ canoe. Hundreds of visitors have been able to see the canoe in process and talk to the builders. Visitors watched as the frame was built, the birchbark was unfurled, the ribs were constructed and put in place, the bark was attached, and etchings were selected and carefully and artistically completed. The canoe build will culminate this Friday with a reception and viewing from 6:00 – 9:00 pm during the final Art Walk of the summer. Here is a photo diary that captures the canoe’s construction over the past month.

Assembling the building bed.

Inserting the winter bark panels.

Measuring and bending the ribs.

Unrolling the bark - the canoe is made from one sheet of bark. This piece is 16' long.

Weighing the bark so it doesn't curl. It's important to keep it hot and wet so it doesn't crack.

Holding the bark in place while it dries. When the wood posts are removed, the bark will keep its shape.

Placing the frame on the bark.

Placing the frame on the bark and weighing it down.

Spruce roots laying across the boat to measure lengths.

Setting the ribs and planks at the same time.

Close-up of the ribs and planks.

Securing the frame to the bark with maple pegs and spruce root.

Locking in the ribs.

Lashing the bark to the frame with spruce roots.

Golf tees hold the layers together while David uses spruce roots to lash the bow of the boat.

Piercing holes in the bark layers at the bow of the boat.

Soaking spruce roots used for lashing.

The bow of the boat lashed with spruce roots.

Abbe Field School 2013

The field school this year started with an afternoon orientation session at the Abbe on Sunday, where the students learned about Maine archaeology, the history of the Tranquility Farm Site, and began to familiarize themselves with the kinds of artifacts they would be finding and the important record keeping they would be doing.

On Day One, the students worked with Dr. Art Spiess, Abbe Curator of Collections Julia Clark, and field supervisor Jane Clifton to lay out their excavation units on the site grid. A couple of the units had been started in previous years, so some students spent the first hour or so digging out the back-fill so they could pick up where previous excavations ended. Eventually everyone got started on their excavation units. The weather was beautiful, if a bit windy! At lunchtime, field school participant and Department of Environmental Protection fish biologist Dave Halliwell shared some of his extensive knowledge of the freshwater fish of Maine. In the evening, students delved into the analysis of animal bones with Dr. Spiess and Jane Clifton. 

On Day Two, a student uncovered a beautiful quartz point! Everyone was getting a feel for excavation techniques, artifact identifications, and the intricacies and details of proper record-keeping (several of the students had the good luck of working with long-time field school veteran Dee Lustusky to guide them in these ventures). At lunchtime, Abbe Museum Curator of Education Raney Bench talked with the students about several contemporary issues for the Wabanaki, and that evening Julia shared some of what she learned during the research for the "Meeting of Nations" exhibit about the St. Sauveur mission and 17th century Wabanaki-French-English interaction.

On Day Three, students unearthed two refitting fragments of a bone harpoon. Several of the students excavating in very complex stratigraphy learned how to carefully document the soil variations that will allow us to reconstruct life at Tranquility Farm more than a thousand years ago. Chris Sockalexis, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Penobscot Nation, came out to the site and shared his enthusiasm for shell midden archaeology and his skill as a flint knapper. It was the third day of lovely Maine summer weather. In the evening, Penobscot archaeologist Bonnie Newsom talked to the students about her dissertation research, and helped them see the people behind the artifacts and appreciate the importance of agency in human behavior.

 

On Day Four, it did begin to rain, but the students progressed onward with a great attitude. The day included
the very special event of Museum Educator George Neptune coming out to the site and playing and singing traditional Wabanaki songs with his drum, bringing language and music back to a place that has not heard the music of its original inhabitants for hundreds of years. And it gave the Field School students another way to learn more about the people who once lived at Tranquility Farm. Several students excavating near the outside edge of the site uncovered dark, most soils full of charcoal associated with a fire pit first identified during last years field school. In the evening, the students and supervisors gathered for a social evening of food and conversation.

On Day Five, the weather grew significantly worse, but there were several units that had to be finished, and the critical work of documenting the excavation had to be completed. With a brief escape to the shelter of vehicles to be safe from a passing thunderstorm, the indomitable students were able to complete the record keeping. One unit will have to await next year for completion. The final task of every field school then followed- the careful back-filling of the square excavation units, with the aim of returning the site to it natural appearance. While the wet, muddy conditions made this a bit of a challenge, the gracious property owner confirmed later that once the sun came back out and the field dried, it looked just fine!

It was a wonderful, successful week, with a great group of students, and we are looking forward to returning to Tranquility Farm next summer. The dates for the 2014 Field School are August 3-8. Contact Julia at the Abbe at (207)288-3519 or julia@abbemuseum.org if you would like more information!

The Abbe Goes Back to School

Raney Bench, Abbe Museum Curator of Education and students at the touch table.

Each year the Abbe works with thousands of students and teachers throughout Maine, developing critical thinkers and building a more respectful and inclusive society. Hundreds of students visit the museum in downtown Bar Harbor each year to explore exhibits and investigate artifacts, creating memorable experiences that shape how they think about Native American history and culture.

Teachers come too, for workshops, resources, and support from our staff. But our education work extends far beyond Bar Harbor. Abbe education staff and volunteers travel throughout the state, working with schools and teachers too distant to make a day-trip to Bar Harbor. Our artifacts travel, reaching children from Cumberland to Aroostook.

Twelve years ago, the Maine legislature passed a mandate, LD291, requiring teachers at all grade levels, kindergarten through diploma, to include Wabanaki history, government, and culture in the Social Studies curriculum.  Maine is one of only a handful of states requiring such a comprehensive approach, yet the state has never provided funding for this mandate. The Wabanaki tribes have been instrumental in developing a set of essential understandings  to guide teachers and students in their studies, and they have created resources and teacher training opportunities.   The tribes agree that many hands make light work, and in order to successfully reach a state-wide audience, education partners like the Abbe Museum are essential.

Students explore the touch table.

Recognizing the need to support teachers, students, and the Wabanaki, the Abbe applied for and received a grant to expand our educational outreach from the Institute for Museum and Library Services in 2012. Partnering with the tribes and the state Department of Education, the Abbe is in the process of creating new multi-disciplinary lessons for students at all grade levels. These lessons will be available on-line for free through our website, the Department of Education's site, and the tribal sites. In addition, Curator of Education, Raney Bench, will coordinate 16 free teacher workshops in every county, with a goal to reach 800 teachers with these new resources. Each workshop will include networking opportunities between teachers and Wabanaki educators and artists to encourage connections that will last beyond the workshop.

“The other thing you taught me is that you can tell something about someone by what they used and what they left behind. I thought that was the coolest thing I’ve ever learned. I usually never pay attention to anything, but everything about the Abbe Museum was interesting; there was nothing boring about it.” – Student Visitor

Fall at the Abbe

Steve Cayard and David Moses Bridges work on the canoe.

With the rainy, cool entry into September, the coming of fall certainly seems to be here. It is always bittersweet to bid the warm, fun-filled months of summer farewell, but we have some exciting celebrations of fall planned at the Abbe and we hope to see you around as the leaves begin to turn.

Our month-long birchbark canoe-build wraps up this Friday, September 6, and we will mark the occasion with a little reception and viewing, all part of the final Art Walk of the summer. Join us at the Abbe from 6:00 – 9:00pm! September also includes a few final demonstrations as part of the Park Program series and the Acadia Night Sky Festival, during which the Abbe will host a couple of events. October brings the start of the 5^th Annual Native American Film Series, which will open with The Last of the Mohicans on October 3, and, of course, the celebrated annual Tea, Popovers & Archaeology event at the Jordan Pond House. Be sure to check our calendar – and have a happy start to fall!

Acadia Night Sky Festival

The Abbe Museum will again be participating in the Acadia Night Sky Festival. We will hold two events on Saturday, September 28. From 1:00 – 3:00 pm join Abbe Museum Educator, George Neptune, for a book reading and a children’s activity. After reading Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters, a children’s book about the Micmac tale that describes the creation of what is now known as “the Big Dipper”, Neptune will teach children how to make paper stars – inspired by a Wabanaki craft! Choose your colors to weave a beautiful star to decorate and take home at the end of the day.

Then, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm, join Neptune at the Abbe’s location at Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park for Possesomuk Ckuwaponahkik: Stars of the Dawnland, a program designed to explore the Wabanaki’s relationship to the sky and, in particular, the many stories they use to explain the distant world above us. Both events are free and open to the public.

Additional, Neptune will be on the Night Sky Cruise on Friday night, sharing additional Wabanaki star stories (but a whole different set of stories from those that he'll be sharing Saturday night - so come both nights if you can!).  

See the complete schedule of events for the entire Festival and enjoy!

Tea and Popovers 2013!

Tea, Popovers, and Archaeology - Colonialism to Pluralism: 
An archaeologist’s education in the northlands

Monday, October 21, 2013, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Jordan Pond House

$20 for Abbe Museum members, $30 for non-members. Reservations are required, by phone at 207-288-3519 or by email at educator@abbemuseum.org.

David Putnam at work.

David E. Putnam, Lecturer of Science at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, will share his personal evolution as a prehistoric archaeologist in Maine, and how his own attitudes about the interests of Native American/First Nations people in archaeological issues initially reflected those of his peers and community. That “mainestream” paradigm was challenged by moving to Montana and Alaska, living in native communities, and working for tribal groups. Returning to northern Maine in 1995, he embarked on a new career trajectory and an enhanced relationship with the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet people of the region. The rich partnership that developed has resulted in numerous joint initiatives with the Bands of northern Maine, and the First Nations of New Brunswick and Quebec.

Sponsored by the Acadia Corporation.

Wabanaki Guides Lecture: Modern Guiding Practices

While the role of the Wabanaki guide has been an important part of the history of the territory now known as Maine for over 400 years, certain aspects of guiding have changed drastically over time. As with any profession, each person who works as a guide takes a slightly different approach to their work.  On Thursday, September 12 from 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Abbe Museum, Penobscot guides and longtime friends Ron Bear and Dean Francis will compare and contrast their personal guiding styles, and explain how they keep guiding traditions alive in an ever-changing environment.

The guiding tradition among the Wabanaki nations is one that reaches back to the time of first contact with Europeans.  From Pierre Dugua and Samuel Champlain to Henry David Thoreau and William Underwood, strangers to this land have long looked to the Wabanaki as guides through the Maine wilderness.  The Wabanaki Nations have been stewards of this land for 12,000 years, with cultural connections and ancestral knowledge of this environment that makes each guided experience unique. Their talk at the Abbe on September 12 accompanies the Abbe’s current exhibit Wabanaki Guides, which explores depth the rich history of guiding amongst the Wabanaki Nations of Maine as well as contemporary issues in the guiding world. This program is free and open to the public and is made possible through support from the Lynam Trust and the Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.

Happy August!

As I write, the sun is beaming down outside. The Abbe's annual archaeological field school is happening this week, and what beautiful weather it has been! News and photos have been pouring in from the field, and it sounds like they've uncovered several exciting artifacts already. Visit our facebook page for updates and photos.

August at the Abbe is a happening time; we are offering several programs each week and, beginning August 12 and running through September 6, the Abbe will host our first ever artist-in-residence program: a birchbark canoe build with David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, and Steve Cayard. Our Park Series, offered in collaboration with Acadia National Park, continues this month and next with demonstrations in beadworking, working with birchbark, ash pounding and several concerts. For our complete schedule of public programming, visit our calendar page.

We look forward to seeing you at the Abbe this August, as we all celebrate those last beautiful days of summer. Looking ahead to fall, we are excited for the second Pecha Kucha MDI event in September and then, before we know it, Tea and Popovers will be rolling around again! Happy August to all.

Johannah

Birchbark Canoe Build at the Abbe Museum!

From August 12 through September 6, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, the Abbe Museum will host an artist-in-residence program featuring the building of a full-sized birchbark canoe the first time one has been built on MDI in almost 100 years.  David Moses Bridges, Passamaquoddy, and Steve Cayard, both skilled builders of birchbark canoes in the Wabanaki tradition, harvested the materials and will be building a 14’ canoe as a public demonstration.  The canoe will become part of the teaching collection at the Abbe Museum, able to travel to schools and public programs outside of the building, and to be paddled during demonstrations.

Steve is a birchbark canoe builder by trade and by calling, and David is a birchbark artist, who is well known for his beautiful etched bark baskets. While working in boatyards in mid-coast Maine in the early 90s, Bridges and Cayard met and discovered a shared passion for birchbark canoes. Bridges apprenticed with Steve in the late 1990s to learn canoe building in honor of his great-grandfather, Sylvester Gabriel, who was one of the last old-time Wabanaki canoe builders. David and Steve have since collaborated on a number of birchbark canoe projects including the 16’ canoe featured in the Abbe’s Gathering Gala this year. They began working together on various projects, teaching and learning from each other.  Through their combined experience, they have collectively built more than 50 birchbark canoes over the years. 

 

Wabanaki birchbark canoes are the result of thousands of years of travel on the inland and marine waterways of what is now called northern New England and the Maritimes. They developed a watercraft based on a deep knowledge of the forest and its materials, and of the demanding local conditions. The result was a canoe that was so well designed that it was copied with almost no modification by the first wood and canvas canoe builders around the turn of the last century. The Wabanaki canoe is thus the ancestor of all modern canoes. The canoe you will see built at the Abbe represents an old style, which in common use among most of the Wabanaki tribes prior to the 1870s. Building a birchbark canoe is long-term commitment. About 200 hours of time in the woods are required to find and gather the necessary materials, and then it takes about 500 hours to build the boat. Bark harvested in either the summer or winter may be used for the skin of the boat, depending on the preference of the builder. The interior of the boat is made with cedar planking and ribs, and secured with the roots from a spruce tree.  The bark is naturally waterproof, and the seams are sealed with a mixture of pine pitch and animal fat, painted on to prevent leaking.  The boats are made of one sheet of bark, about ¼ inch thick.  Peeling the bark does not kill the tree, but it will never grow bark of high enough quality to build another boat.

Wabanaki people have been building birchbark canoes for thousands of years.  Based on archaeological evidence, it is estimated that these canoes replaced dugout canoes about 2,500 years ago.  By the early 1900s few canoe builders were left, and there was a real risk that the knowledge and skill required to build these boats would be lost.  Through extensive research and collaboration between boat builder Steve Cayard, Wabanaki tribes, and other canoe enthusiasts, the craft is enjoying resurgence. 

The canoe-build is free with museum admission and is offered in connection with Wabanaki Guides, an exhibit at the Abbe that chronicles the history of guiding visitors through Maine, from the time of European contact to present, and features two birchbark canoes. The canoe-build is made possible by a gift from Donna and David Reis.

2013 Gathering Gala a Tremendous Success

Many thanks to all who contributed to and attended the 2013 Gathering Gala at the Bar Harbor Club on July 17. The event was a tremendous success. Thanks to 216 gala guests, 21 sponsors, 70 artists and experience donors, and a lively crew of volunteers, the Abbe had a record-setting night. Through this outpouring of generosity, the gala raised over $131,000 for the Abbe Museum.  We received over $33,000 in gifts to support the paddle raise, Teach a Child ~ Support a Teacher, exceeding our original goal!

All of the Gala contributions make it possible for the Abbe to continue producing educational programs and exhibits that inspire thousands of visitors and students and encourage people of all ages and background to learn about the history and contemporary lives of the Wabanaki Nations. This year, the gifts from the paddle raise will be used to match the 3-year grant that the Abbe received from the Institute for Museum and Library Services which will allow the Abbe to produce teaching resources and support for over 800 teachers and travel to all 16 counties of Maine working with the Tribes and the Maine Department of Education to offer on-site workshops, training and community networking.

From the Board of Trustees and the Abbe staff, a huge thank you to all who played a role in the Gala, contributing to the financial health and vibrancy of the Abbe Museum.  Your generosity ensures that we will continue to shine as a beacon of learning for our local communities, the state of Maine, and around the world.

Check out the photos from the evening, thanks to Eager Eye Photography!

Abbe Receives Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

The Abbe was recently the recipient of a $220,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The funds from this grant will be used for projects that are part of phase two in the Greening the Abbe initiative. Specifically, the grant will be used to fund replacement/improvement of the Abbe's exhibit lighting and dehumidification systems in order to meet environmental preservation targets as well as implement economically and environmentally sustainable approaches to the building environment. This project is aligned with the museum's strategic goal to maintain and improve facilities and infrastructure to support essential programs and to promote long-term sustainability.

This is a transformative grant award that will reduce the Abbe's carbon footprint and continue to lower operating costs. The Greening the Abbe initiative kicked off during the 2012 Gathering Gala during our first paddle raise. Collecting over $30,000 in greening donations, the paddle raise made phase one improvements happen which included installation of a new control system for the humidity and temperature systems and UV film in the Circle of Four Directions windows. Efforts like this immediately resulted in lowering our energy consumption by 20%, saving about $500 per month.

The Abbe was also honored to be mentioned in a recent press release from NEH. 

The Abbe offers Smithsonian Membership

As an exciting component of our recent status as Maine's first Smithsonian Affiliate, the Abbe is offering Smithsonian national memberships as an add-on to any level of Abbe membership. For an additional $30 per year, Abbe members receive a full year of membership to the Smithsonian Institution. Benefits include a year's subscription to the Smithsonian magazine or Air & Space magazine, a 10% discount off all purchases from the Smithsonian catalog and SmithsonianStore.com, discounts on shopping and dining when you visit the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, members-only travel and tour opportunities with Smithsonian Journeys, free admission to the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York, NY and a 10% discount on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, along with other benefits. To add the Smithsonian national membership to your existing membership, give us a call today at 288-3519 or email johannah@abbemuseum.org.

Beading Workshop with Martha Newell

An example of Martha Newell's work.

On Saturday, September 7 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, join Martha Newell, Passamaquoddy/Penobscot beadworker, as she teaches traditional beading techniques in a modern context to create fun, simple, and beautiful beaded creations that serve as a link between the traditional and the contemporary. The influence of European colonists affected the traditional crafts of the Wabanaki in many ways, especially by introducing new materials into Wabanaki arts. Beadwork is the perfect example of the Wabanaki's everlasting ability to adapt to their surroundings, as ancient skills mix with new materials to create a brand new tradition.

The fee for this workshop is $30 for Abbe members and $45 for non-members. Registration is required. Please contact Abbe Museum Educator, George Neptune at 288-3519 or at george@abbemuseum.org to reserve your space.

Funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency
supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.

as she teaches traditional beading techniques in a modern context to create fun, simple, and beautiful beaded creations that serve as a link between the traditional and the contemporary.  The influence of European Colonizers affected the traditional crafts of the Wabanaki in many ways, especially by introducing new materials into Wabanaki arts.  Beadwork is a perfect example of the Wabanaki’s everlasting ability to adapt to their surroundings, as ancient skills mix with new materials to create a brand new tradition. - See more at: http://www.abbemuseum.org/calendar/september.html#sthash.gysNlmgb.dpuf

Teach a Child, Support a Teacher Initiative

We wanted to share the description of this year's paddle raise initiative with you. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact Abbe Museum Development Director, Hannah Whalen at 288-3519 or hannah@abbemuseum.org.

From the 2013 Gathering Gala catalog:

"By raising your paddle to donate a monetary gift tonight, you will help us match nearly $170,000 in federal and private funding we’ve secured to meet the needs of Maine teachers and students as they learn about Wabanaki history, culture, and people.

Over the course of this three-year project, we need an additional $120,000 to fully match the grant. Tonight, you can help us reach our year-one match goal of $40,000 by raising your school-bus yellow paddles!

Your impact will be evident:

• Through lesson plan development and 16 free workshops and enhanced online resources, Abbe educators will lead 800 Maine school teachers through comprehensive training, relieving the teacher’s burden of this unfunded mandate, the Wabanaki Initiative (LD 291).

• Connecting with 800 teachers means a direct impact of more than 10,000 Maine students who will benefit from their teachers’ increased comfort and competence in teaching Wabanaki content.

• Ultimately all active learners in this project will benefit when stereotypes are diminished and critical thinking skills are developed, which leads to a more respectful and informed society.

Museums are education centers and it is our greatest purpose to ensure that a 21st century education in Maine includes the Wabanaki perspective and provides accurate and respectful content for classroom learning.

Your gift tonight will have a lasting impact on today’s teachers and tomorrow’s citizens.

Thank you for raising your paddle!"

In the shop!

Come visit the Abbe Museum Shop during the month of August and, among baskets, jewelry, books and many other items, check out the "Rezbeery Jam" we are currently carrying. Made by Plansowes Dana, Passamaquoddy at Pleasant Point, the jam is absolutely delicious and will capture and carry the flavors of summer long into the winter months ahead! Flavors include blackberry, raspberry, blueberry and strawberry and the cost is $16 per jar, before tax.

Summer at the Abbe!

Abbe Museum Field School, a popular August event.

Hello and happy summer! As I write, I can see out the window onto busy Cottage Street here in downtown Bar Harbor. A few days after the Fourth of July, the town is packed and the energy is up! Inside the Abbe, the same excitement fills the building. As we bustle towards several major events and many incredible programs and workshops, it is really nice to take a moment to put together this eNews and reflect on our upcoming offerings. We are really excited about all the next few months have to offer and we look forward to seeing you at an event, a program or in one of our many current exhibits.

A brief note - because we have so many upcoming programs and workshops, we have worked out a little system to make sure you are up-to-date on these offerings. The next few issues of eNews will highlight upcoming programs that require advance registration. These programs have been filling quickly and we want to make sure those interested have the opportunity to register. All upcoming programs will still be listed on the left sidebar of each eNews. Additionally, we will be sending out a weekly program email, listing that week's programs that are open and free to anyone wanting to drop in. We think this will help keep things clear, concise, and help keep you as informed as possible on the many opportunities to experience at the Abbe this summer.

Have a wonderful July!

Johannah

The Abbe Celebrates!

The Smithsonian Affiliate flag flying  proudly at the Abbe!

On Friday, July 5th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, the Abbe celebrated many successes: our status as a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Indivisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas and the 20th Annual Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market - and we threw in our Annual Meeting to boot! It was a perfect evening: beautiful weather, 150 guests and wonderful speeches by Harold Closter, Director of Smithsonian Affiliations, Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian and Theresa Secord, Executive Director of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance. Some memorable quotes from the evening:

Harold Closter presenting Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko,  Abbe President and CEO, with the Abbe's Affiliation certificate.

Harold Closter: "It is absolutely clear that you are doing great work here at the Abbe, and we are so thrilled to be partnering with you."

"I have been blown away by the vibrancy and enduring quality of art and culture in this region."

"Through our partnership with the Abbe, we hope to reach more and more people here, especially those who cannot come to Washington, while also spreading the work of the Abbe nationally."

Kevin Gover

Kevin Gover: "It is very gratifying to us to see how the museums are working with Native American communities and the partnership that they are developing; and you can see everywhere around you here that the Abbe is developing a fine relationship with the tribal communities."

Theresa Secord

Theresa Secord: "We have so much appreciation for the Abbe for working so closely with us; the gift shop here is the largest retail seller of Wabanaki baskets in Maine."

A Wonderful Day at the Native American Festival!

Butch Phillips, Penobscot,  performs a dance.

This past Saturday, close to 1,700 guests flooded into the grounds of the College of the Atlantic to attend the 20th Annual Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market. Despite high temperatures, it was a wonderful day, with a beautiful display of baskets and other art available for purchase, performances of song, dance and readings, demonstrations and delicious food. The Abbe was excited to be able to offer, for the first time, our Smithsonian Affiliate membership, which can be added to any Abbe membership for an additional $30. Benefits include a year of subscription to the Smithsonian Magazine. Kevin Gover, director of the National Museum of the American Indian and Harold Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations both spent time at the Abbe tent conversing with visitors. It was a wonderful 20th celebration of the Festival and we look forward to next year! Be sure to check our facebook page often as we post photos from the Festival.