Panelists | Performers | Market Artists
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Carrie Hill
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
MEDIUM: Basketry - Ash and Sweetgrass
ARTIST STATEMENT
Carrie Hill is an Akwesasne Mohawk black ash and sweetgrass basket artist. The tradition of weaving goes back many generations of Carrie’s family, and her first teacher was her Aunt.
Carrie’s work has a contemporary approach using traditional materials of black ash and sweetgrass. Her work has been sent all over the world, including an entire collection representing the Haudenosaunee People for the U.S. Embassy in Swaziland, Africa. Carries has participated in art markets and art shows, as well as teaches and demonstrates.
Carolyn Anderson
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
MEDIUM: Painting/Illustration
BIOGRAPHY
Carolyn is a visual artist living in Houlton, Maine. Carolyn is a 2013 graduate from the University of Maine at Presque Isle where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with painting and photography concentrations, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education.
Carolyn started out with a desire for photography and fell into a love for painting. Her medium of choice is acrylics but at times using other mediums as well. Inspiration for her work comes from her hometown, nature and her tribe The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
Carolyn currently has work available for sale at the Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, The Pines Grill in Monticello and The Wolastoq Inn in Houlton.
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Brenda Moore-Mitchell
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Basketry
ARTIST STATEMENT
I was taught basketry by Gal Frey. My focus is teaching art classes at Woluhke, a Makers Space through the Indian Health Services at Pleasant Point. I currently create many art forms at my shop, Wabanaki Natural, in Sipayik, which I created in 2019.
Belinda Dawn Miliano
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Beadwork
BIOGRAPHY
Belinda Dawn Miliano is a contemporary beadwork artist, and member of the Passamaquoddy Nation in Sipayik. Belinda has been intrigued with indigenous beadwork art since a young girl, self taught in creation of dream catchers, and mentored by an elder within the tribal community as a young adult for beadwork. Belinda transforms beading into captivating wearables, using traditional materials in combination of modern accents. She is passionate about creating unique pieces and pushing creative boundaries.
Aron Griffith
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
MEDIUM: Basketry - Other
BIOGRAPHY
Aron Griffith, a Maliseet artist who resides in Maine & the Southwest, took on basket making in his early 30s & found a career that fulfilled his goal to raise awareness of the Maliseet traditions and culture. As an artist, he works with Maliseet traditional designs & concepts on birch bark which he gathers in the North Woods & Canada.
Aron is self taught and has developed his own unique style, including his birch bark dolls, burden baskets & rattles. Each piece of bark is selected carefully & with respect to the birch tree. Etchings are done using a needle or awl & usually decorated with sweetgrass, spruce root and brown ash. Aron’s baskets are functional pieces as well as decorative & his designs represent various animal and plant life.
Birch bark basketry has been made for centuries by Maliseet people of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, a beautiful and unique art form that has remained with only a few artisans left in our community. Aron has produced several significant works that have been on display and for sale at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
April Lola
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Diverse Arts
BIOGRAPHY
April Lola is a Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) artist from Motahkomikuk (Indian Township). A mother of two Passamaquoddy and Maliseet daughters and a graduate student in clinical counseling, she turned to botanical framed art as a way to carve out time for creativity and self-care amidst her busy life.
Born and raised on the Motahkomikuk reservation, her home was filled with art, April was deeply influenced by her mother, a respected beader known for her intricate dream catchers. She gravitated toward floral art, preserving foraged and gifted flowers over time. Inspired by the beauty and significance of these natural elements, she began incorporating medicines of the four directions and themes of feminine strength into her work. Through silhouettes of the divine feminine, she tells stories of resilience, empowerment, and connection to the land.
Ann Pollard-Ranco
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Indian Nation
MEDIUM: Photography, Beadwork, Textiles
ARTIST STATEMENT
Ann Pollard-Ranco is a mixed media artist and citizen of the Penobscot Nation and Bilijk First Nation. Her interdisciplinary work weaves together photography, beadwork, and textile arts to explore themes of cultural revitalization, memory, and relationship to place. As a person of the Dawnland, she is guided by light in her creative process. Her work reflects a deep sense of cultural responsibility, shaped by her relationship to Penobscot language, homeland, and community. She is also involved in community-based language revitalization, rooted in relationship to land and kinship.
Andrea Hunter
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Eel Ground
MEDIUM: Painted Cedar Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
Kwè
My name is Andrea Hunter. I a Mi’kmaq Artist from Natoaganeg First Nation (Eel Ground). I currently reside in Connecticut with my family amongst our Algonquin sister tribes. As an artist I create hand painted cedar art using traditional and modern day designs in my work. As well as inlay style work into cedar art as well using materials such as crushed wampum shell and crushed stones. Using our people’s designs and bringing them to life using one of our four sacred medicines allows me to pass on traditions to our people and share my art for generations to come. Wela’lin
Alexandra Francis
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Indian Nation
MEDIUM: Jewelry, Beadwork
BIOGRAPHY
Alexandra (Neptune) Francis is a Peskotomuhkat (fisher clan) naka Panawapskewi (eel clan) citizen, mother, and artist. Growing up at Sipayik, learning basic beadwork at an early age, the seeds of cultural expression were planted.
Alex ventured into 2D art while in high school and university and continues to use skills acquired as a basis for all creation. In 2019, she revisited beadwork and has continued to actively create contemporary and traditional art.
Presently residing in Panawapskek territory, as a Wabanaki Traditional Arts mentor, Alex actively shares knowledge with others with the aim of continuity for cultural art forms. The vitality of our culture lies in the passing on of all the aspects of what makes us who we are- passing on the gifts of our ancestors.
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Jason Pardilla
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Indian Nation
MEDIUM: Photography
BIOGRAPHY
Jason Pardilla is an accomplished outdoorsman, photographer/videographer, wood worker, and councilor. Exploring the Wabanaki Homeland year round, Jason works to round up Wabanaki stories that cause people to contemplate their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere.
Layered by outdoor, travel, adventure, canoeing, and cultural subjects, Jason is known for images that are punctuated by cultural, Wabanaki landscapes. Through the camera lens Jason strives to share his vision of Wabanaki homeland with all people, and inspire them to explore for themselves.
His perspective has earned him opportunities to work with exceptional people, build a birchbark canoe, and represent his tribe as a Penobscot Nation Tribal Councilor. Along with his tribe, Jason lives in his homeland in the Penobscot River Valley.
Jason has established himself as a river guide and creative. He is happiest with his family spending time on the Penobscot River.
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Cassandra Candelmo
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Pottery & Leatherwork
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a born and raised Passamaquoddy woman who grew up immersed in Maine’s natural beauty and rich culture. I am a mom to 4 amazing children who are my world. I find peace and The Lord exploring Maine’s majestic outdoors with some of my favorite things being scouting for eagle feathers, exploring the beautiful rocky coastline and soaking up the much waited summer sun. Growing up as a Passamaquoddy child I relish memories of collecting sea glass at Split Rock with my grandmother, picking sweet grass with my mom at Sipayik, harvesting blueberries with my siblings in Downeast Maine and fishing in the Passamaquoddy Bay with my dad.
My passion for making was born out of watching my mom create with her hands; from dresses to yummy food to beading I have always wanted to follow in her footsteps. As a proud Passamaquoddy woman I am grateful to be able to share my culture and heritage through leather and clay. My work reflects the many influences I’ve had and is a collective of Maine indigenous culture. I am drawn towards creating pieces that reflect God’s creation and my heritage. For example, my Hazel bag takes a traditional Passamaquoddy medicine bag and transforms it for modern day use. Each bag is hand crafted and tells a story. My signature Nisuwok Wiphunsisok (Two Feather) mug, is glazed with copper and turquoise, symbolic of my love for turquoise jewelry and my heart to support fellow indigenous artisans. I find working with both leather and clay healing and therapeutic; using my hands and reconnecting with the earth and Creator. Each of my pieces are handcrafted with the hope that they will bring joy to your life and can be passed down from generation to generation
Kaya Lolar
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Indian Nation
MEDIUM: Basketry - Ash
ARTIST STATEMENT
Kaya Lolar (she/her) is a citizen of the Panawahpskek Nation and has been learning to bead alongside her mother from their mentor, Alexandra Francis, since the spring of 2024. Kaya has a passion for writing (especially creatively) and greatly values the power of storytelling as one of many tools to amplify Indigenous voices and inspire the youth of generations to come. She aims to expand her creativity through the traditional practice of beading as a reimagined vessel for sharing stories.
Gal Frey
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe
MEDIUM: Basketry - Ash
ARTIST STATEMENT
Gal Frey (Passamaquoddy) makes ash sweetgrass baskets and beadwork. She is from Passamaquoddy reservation in Indian township. She grew up in a basket making family and joined the family in making utility baskets as a weaver. As an adult she apprenticed with Sylvia Gabriel through the basket makers alliance learning to process material and the finer points of basketry.
Billy Longfellow
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy
PANEL: Water is Life
BIOGRAPHY:
William Malsom Longfellow is a Passamaquoddy Tribal Member of Pleasant Point (Sipayik), Maine, deeply connected to his home community through family, culture, and place. He has always held a strong interest in the waters and natural resources of his homeland and the ways they sustain the Passamaquoddy people. This lifelong relationship with land and water forms the foundation of his values and professional path.
Before entering his professional capacities, William gained meaningful hands-on experience working directly with the land and waters of his community. He worked in the blueberry fields as a blueberry raker, along the shoreline as a wrinkle harvester, and in the rivers as an elver fisherman. These experiences provided him with a deep, practical understanding of subsistence practices, local ecosystems, and the cultural and economic importance of natural resources to tribal life.
William currently serves as a Water Quality Program Specialist within the Sipayik Environmental Department for the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point. His work focuses on protecting, monitoring, and sustainably managing tribal water resources to support environmental health, public health, and long-term community well-being. He works with a wide range of waterbody types, including wetlands, groundwater, lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and municipal drinking water systems, and assists with public drinking water studies essential to
community safety. He maintains a strong interest in fisheries, tribal history, and lifelong learning, and is deeply committed to learning more about Passamaquoddy history and helping to preserve tribal knowledge, stories, and cultural connections to water and land. William believes that understanding and honoring tribal history is essential to effective environmental stewardship and to protecting resources for future generations.
William is a strong advocate for tribal sovereignty and tribal rights, supporting tribal self-determination and the protection of tribal authority in environmental and natural resource management. His advocacy emphasizes Indigenous leadership, culturally grounded stewardship, and responsible decision-making led by tribal communities themselves. He has also appeared in a three-part NOVA documentary series focused on climate change in the Gulf of Maine, which highlights Indigenous perspectives, fisheries, and community-based responses to environmental change.
William holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and has received many formal trainings and certifications throughout his career. His long-term goal is to become a respected leader in environmental and resource management, helping to foster healthier ecosystems, healthier lifestyles, and a strong, sustainable economy for the communities he serves. Outside of work, William enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, learning, meeting new people, and being with friends and family. Although not an artist himself, he has held a lifelong interest in art, music, film, and theater arts, and maintains a deep respect and open-minded appreciation for creative expression. He is also a lifelong fan of Star Wars and geek culture and operates a small online reselling business related to those interests, reflecting his curiosity, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Jennifer Neptune
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot
PANEL: Water is Life
BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer Neptune (Penobscot Nation) is the Director of the Penobscot Nation Museum on Indian Island, Maine, dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of the Penobscot Indian Nation and the Wabanaki people. She is also a master basketmaker, beadworker, and Maine guide, who recently served as the exhibit writer for the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station at the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The recipient of many national awards and grants for her basketmaking, she has worked to preserve and adapt traditions of ash and sweetgrass basketry and to mentor other artists. She holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Maine.
Darren Ripley
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkmikuk
PANEL: Honoring 250 Years of Wabanaki Veterans
BIOGRAPHY
Hello my name is Shane A. Hill. I am a Tribal Elder and a proud combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps. I am also a devoted family man, father to four adult children and husband to my wife, Stephanie, for over 21 years. In my spare time, I enjoy fishing, hunting, trapping and I take great pride in teaching these traditions to younger generations.
My commitment to service has taken me overseas as one of the few tribal members to actively participate in combat operations. During my time in the military, I deployed as part of UNISOM forces in support of Operation United Shield, serving in Mogadishu, Somalia, within a special operations command. In that high-risk combat environment, I earned a Combat Action award for directly engaging hostile forces, an experience that reflects my dedication to mission accomplishment, professionalism, and resilience.
After my military service, I continued serving veterans at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, where I first served as Manager and later became Superintendent. I then went on to serve as Superintendent of Cemeteries for the Bureau of Veterans’ Services. In these roles, I ensured the highest standards of honor and dignity for those laid to rest and their families. My work was formally recognized by Senator Susan Collins after our cemetery system received a near-perfect score through the National Cemetery Administration evaluation process. That recognition reflects my strong attention to detail, integrity, and deep respect for fellow veterans. I remain a committed advocate for veterans and their families, working to ensure they receive the recognition, resources, and support they deserve.
Today, I serve as Facilities Manager for the Mi'kmaq Nation, where I take pride in being a proactive and hands-on leader. I focus on improving infrastructure, strengthening operations, and supporting the evolving needs of our community. As a Tribal Elder, I am dedicated to preserving our cultural traditions, sharing our history, and offering guidance grounded in my life experiences, service, and leadership.
Shane A. Hill
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Mi’kmaq Nation
PANEL: Honoring 250 Years of Wabanaki Veterans
BIOGRAPHY
Hello my name is Shane A. Hill. I am a Tribal Elder and a proud combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps. I am also a devoted family man, father to four adult children and husband to my wife, Stephanie, for over 21 years. In my spare time, I enjoy fishing, hunting, trapping and I take great pride in teaching these traditions to younger generations.
My commitment to service has taken me overseas as one of the few tribal members to actively participate in combat operations. During my time in the military, I deployed as part of UNISOM forces in support of Operation United Shield, serving in Mogadishu, Somalia, within a special operations command. In that high-risk combat environment, I earned a Combat Action award for directly engaging hostile forces, an experience that reflects my dedication to mission accomplishment, professionalism, and resilience.
After my military service, I continued serving veterans at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, where I first served as Manager and later became Superintendent. I then went on to serve as Superintendent of Cemeteries for the Bureau of Veterans’ Services. In these roles, I ensured the highest standards of honor and dignity for those laid to rest and their families. My work was formally recognized by Senator Susan Collins after our cemetery system received a near-perfect score through the National Cemetery Administration evaluation process. That recognition reflects my strong attention to detail, integrity, and deep respect for fellow veterans. I remain a committed advocate for veterans and their families, working to ensure they receive the recognition, resources, and support they deserve.
Today, I serve as Facilities Manager for the Mi'kmaq Nation, where I take pride in being a proactive and hands-on leader. I focus on improving infrastructure, strengthening operations, and supporting the evolving needs of our community. As a Tribal Elder, I am dedicated to preserving our cultural traditions, sharing our history, and offering guidance grounded in my life experiences, service, and leadership.
Donald Soctomah
TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Passamaquoddy
PANEL: Honoring 250 Years of Wabanaki Veterans
BIOGRAPHY
Donald Soctomah is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Native American historian, author, teacher, filmmaker, lecturer, and storyteller. He received a Forestry Bachelor degree and a Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Maine system. He serves as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Passamaquoddy Tribal communities, and received a Presidential appointment to the board of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission. Donald works on the protection of culturally significant sites, artifacts and knowledge. He has written several books about Passamaquoddy history, as well as co-authored two children’s books, Remember Me: Tomah Joseph’s Gift to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and The Canoe Maker. Donald has appeared on National Public Television, Maine Public Television, Canadian Broadcasting, Animal Planet and is a frequent consultant to the Smithsonian Institution, US Library of Congress, and Maine State Museum.