Showing 51 - 100 of 131 Items





Statement by James Tierney collected by Heather Westleigh on November 19, 2014

Date: 2014-11-19

Creator: James Tierney

Access: Audio recording permanently restricted



Statement by Debi Francis, Esther Mitchell, Sandra Smith and Carolyn Bluhm collected by Rachel George on February 12, 2014

Date: 2014-02-12

Creator: Debi Francis, Esther Mitchell, Sandra Smith, Carolyn Bluhm, Debi Francis, Esther Mitchell, Sandra Smith and Carolyn Bluhm

Access: Open access



Statement by Cheryl Lola and Mary Jenkins collected by Rachel George on April 24, 2015

Date: 2015-04-24

Creator: Cheryl Lola, Mary Jenkins, Cheryl Lola and Mary Jenkins

Access: Open access



Statement by Martha Proulx collected by Rachel George on September 17, 2014

Date: 2014-09-17

Creator: Martha Proulx

Access: Open access




Statement by Lisa Bullard collected by Rachel George on July 10, 2014

Date: 2014-07-10

Creator: Lisa Bullard

Access: Open access



Statement by Brian Chapla collected by Rachel George on October 14, 2014

Date: 2014-10-14

Creator: Brian Chapla

Access: Open access



Statement by Peter Walsh collected by Charlotte Bacon on April 23, 2015

Date: 2015-04-23

Creator: Peter Walsh

Access: Open access





Statements by Individuals

This series includes audio and video recordings, as well as related transcripts, of all unrestricted statements by individuals that are part of the TRC archives. Statement providers include Wabanaki elders, children once in foster care and their family members, foster and adoptive parents, tribal leaders, service providers, incarcerated people, attorneys and judges, caseworkers, and administrators from the tribes and from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Some statement providers requested anonymity, and in those cases, both the transcripts and recordings have been altered to protect participants' identities.

These personal memories provide a window into the realities of the relationship between Wabanaki people and the state of Maine. As evidenced by the recordings themselves, the process of providing statements was often an emotional one for participants. Readers should be aware that many of the statements contain challenging and disturbing content. The statements are made available online with the hope that broader access to these important historical records will further our understanding of this difficult past and lead to improved child welfare practices for Wabanaki families.

Bowdoin does not hold copyright for these materials. They are made available for research and educational purposes, and with the permission of the TRC and individual statement providers. For all uses outside of "fair use" (as defined by Title 17, United States Code), including derivation, publication, and reproduction, researchers must secure permission from the copyright holders, typically the individual statement providers.

For More Information

If you have questions or concerns about your statement, or if you need research assistance, please contact the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives at scaref@bowdoin.edu or calling 207.725.3288

Visit the website of Wabanaki REACH to stay up to date on the work to implement the Commission’s recommendations. If you participated in the TRC and need support, or if you wish to contribute to the archive by providing a statement, please contact Wabanaki REACH at 207.615.3189

Please also read Wabanaki REACH's statement of support issued upon the release of the archives.

A related series of Statements collected at Focus Group meetings is also available.



Statement gathered at Indian Island, Maine, November 14, 2014

Date: 2014-11-14

Creator: Connie Smith, Esther Attean, Martha Proulx, Penthea Burns, Sharon Tomah, Luke Joseph

Access: Open access






Statement by Joshua Toner collected by Rachel George on August 27, 2014

Date: 2015-08-27

Creator: Joshua Toner

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Margot Millikan on February 10, 2014

Date: 2014-02-10

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Luke Joseph collected by Rachel George on August 6, 2014

Date: 2014-08-06

Creator: Luke Joseph

Access: Open access



Statement by Ron Siviski collected by Erika Bjorum on November 6, 2015

Date: 2015-11-06

Creator: Ron Siviski

Access: Open access



Statement by Edward Peter Paul collected by Rachel George on October 16, 2014

Date: 2014-10-30

Creator: Edward Peter Paul

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Marcie Lister on August 6, 2014

Date: 2014-08-06

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Denise Altvater on November 20, 2013

Date: 2013-11-20

Creator: Denise Altvater

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Marcie Lister on October 14, 2014

Date: 2014-10-14

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Margaret Semple collected by Rachel George on January 16, 2015

Date: 2015-01-16

Creator: Margaret Semple

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Marilyn Bronzi on August 27, 2014

Date: 2014-08-27

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Michael Augustine collected by Rachel George on November 17, 2014

Date: 2014-11-17

Creator: Michael Augustine

Access: Open access




Statement by Anonymous collected by Rachel George on August 6, 2014

Date: 2014-08-06

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Margot Milliken on November 20, 2013

Date: 2013-11-20

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Frank Smith on March 27, 2014

Date: 2014-03-27

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Marcie Lister on October 16, 2014

Date: 2014-10-16

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access







Statement gathered at the Maine Correctional Center, Windham, Maine, April 17, 2015

Date: 2015-04-17

Creator: Travis McDonald, Clarence Meeks, Travis Murphy

Access: Open access



Statement by Anonymous collected by Rachel George on December 15, 2014

Date: 2014-12-15

Creator: Anonymous

Access: Open access



Statement by Barbara Kates collected by Rachel George on October 15, 2014

Date: 2014-10-15

Creator: Barbara Kates

Access: Open access



Statement by Douglas Chapman collected by Erika Bjorum on August 9, 2023

Date: 2023-08-09

Creator: Douglas Chapman

Access: Open access

This statement was given privately.


Statement gathered at Indian Island, Maine, November 17, 2014

Date: 2014-11-17

Creator: Barbara Kates, Stephanie Bailey, Maria Girouard, Arla Patch, Wenona Lola, Esther Attean

Access: Open access



Statement gathered at Sipayik-Pleasant Point, Maine, November 13, 2014

Date: 2014-11-13

Creator: Adele Moore, Stephanie Bailey, Garry Moore, Lynn Mitchell

Access: Open access



Statement by Eric Mehnert and Rhonda Decontie collected by Rachel George on December 5, 2014

Date: 2014-12-05

Creator: Eric Mehnert, Rhonda Decontie, Eric Mehnert and Rhonda Decontie

Access: Open access



Focus Group Statements

This series includes audio recordings and related transcript of statements by focus groups convened by the TRC. Session participants include Wabanaki foster and adoptive parents, Wabanaki Health and Wellness, Maine-Wabanaki REACH board members, community organizers, and inmates at the Maine Correctional Center. The discussions focus on native fostering and adoption; reconciliation, justice, and trauma; community organization; and background history. Some statement providers requested anonymity, and in those cases, both the transcripts and recordings have been altered to protect participants' identities.

These personal memories provide a window into the realities of the relationship between Wabanaki people and the state of Maine. As evidenced by the recordings themselves, the process of participating in the group discussions was often an emotional one for participants. Readers should be aware that many of the statements contain challenging and disturbing content. The statements are made available online with the hope that broader access to these important historical records will further our understanding of this difficult past and lead to improved child welfare practices for Wabanaki families.

Bowdoin does not hold copyright for these materials. They are made available for research and educational purposes, and with the permission of the TRC and group participants. For all uses outside of "fair use" (as defined by Title 17, United States Code), including derivation, publication, and reproduction, researchers must secure permission from the copyright holders, typically the group participants.

For More Information

If you have questions or concerns about your statement, or if you need research assistance, please contact the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives at scaref@bowdoin.edu or calling 207.725.3288

Visit the website of Wabanaki REACH to stay up to date on the work to implement the Commission’s recommendations. If you participated in the TRC and need support, or if you wish to contribute to the archive by providing a statement, please contact Wabanaki REACH at 207.615.3189

Please also read Wabanaki REACH's statement of support issued upon the release of the archives.

A related series of Statements by Individuals is also available.



Statement gathered at Motahkomikuk-Indian Township, Maine, November 12, 2014

Date: 2014-11-12

Creator: Karen Sabattis, Anonymous, Stephanie Bailey, Jeanie Grant, Molly Socoby, Selina Mitchell-Lola, Katherine Newell

Access: Open access



Statement by Elizabeth Neptune collected by Rachel George on February 6, 2015

Date: 2015-02-06

Creator: Elizabeth Neptune

Access: Open access