Dawnland Voices

Siobhan Senier is an associate professor of English and the James H. and Claire Short Hayes Professor in the Humanities at the University of New Hampshire. She is the author of Voices of American Indian Assimilation and Resistance: Helen Hunt Jackson, Sarah Winnemucca, and Victoria Howard and editor of the website Writing of Indigenous New England.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction by Siobhan SenierMI'KMAQIntroduction by Jaime BattisteChief Stephen AugustineMi'kmaq Creation StoryGrand Council of the Mi'kmaq NationThe Covenant ChainElsie Charles Basque (b. 1916)From Here to ThereRita Joe (1932–2007)From Song of Rita JoeDaniel N. Paul (b. 1938)From We Were Not the SavagesMarie Battiste (b. 1949)Structural Unemployment: The Mi'kmaq ExperienceJames Sakej Youngblood Henderson (b. 1944)Mi'kmaq TreatiesLorne Simon (1960–1994)From Stones and SwitchesLindsay Marshall (b. 1960)Clay Pots and BonesMainkewin? (Are You Going to Maine?)ProgressJaime Battiste (b. 1979)From "Understanding the Progression of Mi'kmaq Law"Alice Azure (b. 1940)Repatriation SoliloquyMi'kmaq Haiku Starlit Simon (b. 1983)Without a MicrophoneIn Quest of Road KillNotesFurther ReadingMALISEETIntroduction by Juana PerleyGabe Acquin (1839–1901)Pictograph Chief James PaulLetter to Edward Sapir, 1911Henry "Red Eagle" Perley (1885–1972)The Red Man's BurdenShirley BearFreeport, MaineHistory Resource MaterialBaqwa'sun, Wuli Baqwa'sunSeptember MorningFragile FreedomsAndrea Bear NicholasLinguicide, the Killing of Languages, and the Case for Immersion EducationChief Brenda Commander (b. 1958)Open Letter to Barack ObamaMihku Paul (b. 1958)The Ballad of Gabe AcquinThe Water RoadReturn20th Century PowWow PlaylandTrade in the 21st CenturyNotesFurther ReadingPASSAMAQUODDYIntroduction by Donald SoctomahSopiel Soctomah (1755–1820)Wampum ReadingChief Francis Joseph Neptune (1735–1834)Speech, 1813Deacon Sockabasin (1790–1888)Save the Fish and Wildlife and Return Our Land!Joseph Stanislaus (1800–1880)"You don't make the trees . . ."Sopiel Selmore (1814–1903)Megaque's Last BattleTomah Joseph (1837–1914)The Power of One's WillLewis Mitchell (1847–1930)Speech before the Maine State Legislature, 1887Letter to Charles Godfrey LelandSylvia Gabriel (1929–2003)Wounded BeFrom Dusk to DawnPeter Mitchell (1929–1978)Open Letter to AmericansMary Ellen Stevens (Socobasin, 1947–1988)Passamaquoddy GirlDonald Soctomah (b. 1955)Skicin LoveForever Tribal LoveSacred Color RedVera Francis (b. 1958)Technology Meets Ecology: Passamaquoddy BayDawna Meader (b. 1959)Gordon IslandSeasonsDream of the Hunter's DanceSusie Mitchell Sutton (b. 1963)My Story of the Dragonfly and My Sister Rae-Lee and My MOM!Wendy Newell Dyer (b. 1964)A Warrior's HomecomingRussell Bassett (b. 1967)A Measure of TimelessnessMajestic Beauty Of Life from LifeOne Aspect of the Journey of LifeKani Malsom (b. 1969)To My Brothers Rolfe Richter (b. 1969)"Spring drew its first breath the previous day . . ."Christine Downing (b. 1972)A Summer Day in MotahkomikukMaggie Neptune Dana (b. 1973)Coming TogetherSacred Hoop CeremonyMarie Francis (b. 1975)Diminished DreamsNatalie Dana (b. 1985)ListenFragmented PeopleWith This PencilJenny Soctomah (b. 1985)"The spirit is deep within us . . ."Ellen Nicholas (b. 1987)The Heart of SipayikSipayik Reservation 1974Cassandra Dana (b. 1992)Kci Woliwon NotesFurther ReadingPENOBSCOTIntroduction by Carol DanaPenobscot Governors and Indians in CouncilMaine State PowerJoseph Nicolar (1827–1894)The Scribe of the Penobscots Sends Us His Weekly MessageMolly Spotted Elk (1903–1977)We're In the Chorus NowGeegis"I'm free in the world of these carpeted hills . . .""Some ten or few years so ago or more . . ."Baby GirlThe Lost Soul of the WildernessThe Dreamer—Moodas (The Dream Spirit)Northern LightsFred Ranco (1932–2008)The Avengerssipsis (b. 1941)Injun LaughGewh HuzDonna Loring (b. 1948)The Dark Ages of Education and a New Hope: Teaching Native American History in Maine SchoolsCarol Dana (b. 1952)Penobscot Home Nation We're Like the Moss on the RockCaribou Lake Winter"Mother of three didn't know . . .""Pensive in her rocking chair . . ."ChildrenA Walk to KtadhinRhonda Frey (1955–2009)Growing Up with Stereotypes: A Native Woman's PerspectiveJohn Bear Mitchell (b. 1968)What's It Like Today? (from the Ulnerbeh series)Sherri Mitchell (b. 1969)Nokomis Speaks: Message to the Seventh GenerationSky WomanThe LodgeNick Bear (b. 1985)Dry FunkgladlyTreaty of 2010february weather makes me feel like thisNotesFurther ReadingABENAKIIntroduction by Lisa BrooksSamuel NumphowLetter to Thomas HenchmanKancamagusPetitions, c. 1685Petition at No. 2, Kwinitekw, 1747Joseph Laurent (1839–1917)Preface to New Familiar Abenakis and English DialoguesHenry Lorne Masta (1853–?)From Abenaki Indian Legends, Grammar and Place-NamesRobert James Tahamont (1891–?)Chief TeedyuscungThe Masquerade BallStephen Laurent (1909–2001)The Abenakis of VermontClaudia Mason Chicklas (1926–2008)A Profile in CourageAunt Mary and Uncle FrankJoseph Bruchac III (b. 1942)From Bowman's StoreBurial Places along the Long RiverNdakinnaCarol Willette Bachofner (b. 1947)Abenaki DivorceWinter BringerIn the Abenaki MannerNaming WaterWazôliinebiThe Old Man's WalkPlanting Moon KikasBurial DressJibaakiCheryl Savageau (b. 1950)Poison in the PondSmallpoxWhere I Want ThemSwift River—KancamagusBefore Moving on to Plymouth from Cape Cod—1620Amber NecklaceTreesLooking for IndiansFrench Girls Are FastDonna Laurent Caruso (b. 1951)The Removal PeriodNnd Haiku: A Trilogy Abenaki Filmmaker Earns Luminaria AwardMargaret M. Bruchac (b. 1953)War Wounds: Sophie Senecal Goes to WashingtonPraying Spoils the HuntingSuzanne S. Rancourt (b. 1959)Take From My Hair—Memories of ChangeThunderbeingsFanning FireSinging Across the RiverEven When the Sky Was ClearWhen the Air Is DryJames Bruchac (b. 1968)Tracking My NatureJesse Bruchac (b. 1972)Gluskonba's Fish Trap (Klosk8ba Adelahigan)NotesFurther ReadingNIPMUCIntroduction by Cheryl Watching Crow StedtlerWowaus (James Printer, c. 1640–c. 1709)Note Tacked to a Tree, Medfield, Massachusetts, 1676[?]Ransom Note for Mary RowlandsonEbenezer Hemenway (1804–c. 1878)On the Death of His Mother, February 17, 1847Zara Ciscoe Brough (1919–1988)Days of HassanamesitCorrine Bostic (1927–1981)Ballad for BubbaDedication to the Young: Cuttin' a SpoonfulTouchstonesSlatemenFor Teachers: A Self-ReminderRichard Spotted Rabbit Massey (1934–2012)Hepsibeth Bowman Crosman Hemenway, 1763–1847Edwin W. Morse Sr. (Chief Wise Owl, 1929–2010)Chief Wise Owl's PrayerKitt Little Turtle (George Munyan, 1940–2004)Coyote SpiritNipmuck LegendLegend about HobbamockThe Heat Moon Nancy Bright Sky Harris (b. 1952)To Carol and David with LoveWoman of the WarriorWind from SummerThe Gifted Porcupine Roach MakerCreator of LifeHear Your PeopleThere Was a TimeHawk Henries (b. 1956)Carrying the FluteCheryl Watching Crow Stedtler (b. 1960)Honoring a Father and a SonFull CircleNever Too Late to Dance"Circle low . . ."PressedCheryll Toney Holley (b. 1962)A Brief Look at Nipmuc HistoryBruce Curliss (b. 1965)"Authentic," Power, and Stuck in My CrawWoman, Mother, Sister, Daughter, LoverLarry Spotted Crow Mann (b. 1967)From "Deal Me In"Heart in the CloudsThe CrowSarah "She Paints Horses" Stedtler (b. 1997)The Fresh Water PeopleAn Indian GatheringIndiansThe Dancer's FootNotesFurther ReadingWAMPANOAGIntroduction by Joan Tavares Avant (Granny Squannit)Early Texts in MassachusettPetition from Gay Head Sachem Mittark, 1681Petition from Gay Head, 1749Petition from Gay Head to Commissioners of New England CompanyAlfred DeGrasse (1890–1978)About Poison IvyThe Legend of the Red EagleMabel Avant (1892–1964)InterviewThe Voice of Our Forsaken ChurchHelen Manning (1919–2008)From Moshup's FootstepsFrank James (Wamsutta, 1923–2001)National Day of MourningHelen Attaquin (1923–1993)How Martha's Vineyard Came to BeFrom "There Are Differences"Russell Peters (Fast Turtle, 1929–2002)From The Wampanoags of MashpeeAnne Foxx (b. 1950)Historical Continuities in Indigenous Women's Political Activism: An Interview with Joan Tavares AvantLinda CoombsHolistic History: Including the Wampanoag in an Exhibit at Plimoth PlantationPaula PetersWampanoag ReflectionsBeware: Not All Terms Are Fair GameRobert Peters (b. 1962)GrandfatherRed Sun RisingMwalim *7)/Morgan James PetersFrom A Mixed Medicine BagNotesFurther ReadingNARRAGANSETTIntroduction by Dawn DoveLetters to Eleazar Wheelock (1760s)Thomas Commuck (1805–1855)Letter to Wilkins Updike, 1837Letter to Elisha Potter, 1844The Narragansett Dawn (1935–1936)Editorial (May 1935)The Boston Marathon (May 1935)Editorial (August 1935)"Indian Meeting Day," by Fred V. Brown (August 1935)Narragansett Tongue: Lesson 11 (March 1936)Fireside Stories (July 1936)Ella Wilcox SekatauI Found Him on a Hill TopLife and Seasons Must Surely ChangeFor the ChildrenSometimes I Wish I Could Rage Like YouSure I'm Still Hanging AroundPaulla Dove JenningsSpeechesDawn DoveAlienation of Indigenous Students in the Public School SystemIn Order to Understand Thanksgiving, One Must Understand the Sacredness of the Gift000John Christian Hopkins (b. 1960)Troopers Lead Attack on Narragansett ReservationTarzan BrownWilliam O.Sad Country SongsNuweetooun School (2003–2009)"Roaring Brook," by Lorén M. Spears"The Four Animals" and "The Three Sisters," by Dasan Everett"The creator made us all . . . ," by Darrlyn Sand Fry"Sky woman falling from the sky . . . ," by Laurel SpearsThawn Harris (b. 1978)"Thank You, met Colleagues . . ."Eleanor Dove Harris (b. 1979)TGIF 1TGIF 2Letter to California State University Administration, Faculty, and Student BodyThe Pursuit of Happiness (2005)From "Happiness in Our Own Words," by Ella Sekatau and Dawn DoveFrom "Pursuit of Happiness: An Indigenous View on Education," by Lorén M. SpearsNotesFurther ReadingMOHEGANIntroduction by Stephanie M. FieldingSamson Occom (1723–1791)Montaukett Tribe to the State of New YorkMohegan and Niantic Tribes to the Connecticut Assembly"The most remarkable . . . Appearance of Indian Tribes"Joseph Johnson (1751–1776)From His DiariesLetter to Samson OccomFidelia Fielding (1827–1908)Man's Relationship with GodThe Truth of TomorrowWeatherMary Virginia Morgan (1897–1988)Address at 100th Anniversary of the Mohegan ChurchGladys Tantaquidgeon (1899–2005)See the Beauty Surrounding UsAn Affectionate Portrait of Frank SpeckJayne Fawcett (b. 1936)HomelandAttic DawnPan's SongShantokFaith Damon Davison (b. 1940)Mohegan FoodStephanie M. Fielding (b. 1945)RemembranceThe HoopSharon I. Maynard (b. 1953)Long Island SoundA Winter's MornWilliam Donehey (b. 1955)RiverHis LoverSpirit TeacherFreedomThe Course of LoveSparrowAgainJoe Smith (b. 1956)Fade into White Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel (b. 1960)The WindowAlysson Troffer (b. 1960)The Little Girl on the HookEric Maynard (b. 1976)The Circle"Native American Professor . . ."Madeline Fielding Sayet (b. 1989)When the Whippoorwill CallsNotesFurther ReadingSCHAGHTICOKEIntroduction by Trudie Lamb Richmond and Ruth Garby TorresHoward N. Harris (1900–1967)Letter to the Department of State ParksIrving A. Harris (1931–2005)Letter to Brenden KeleherTrudie Lamb Richmond (b. 1931)Why Does the Past Matter? Eunice Mauwee's Resistance Was Our Path to SurvivalGrowing Up Indian (or Trying To) in Southern New EnglandPaulette Crone-Morange (1943–2004)From "The Schaghticoke and English Law: A Study of Community Survival"Ruth Garby Torres (b. 1955)Eulogy for Irving HarrisAileen Harris McDonough (b. 1975)How I Became a (Paid) WriterOn LossWunneanatsu Cason (b. 1980)I'm Off to See the WizardDeployments and MotherhoodGarry Meeches Jr. (b. 1997)SoccerPolar Bear PoemI AmSenses: HearWhat Never DiesBuild a PoemNotesFurther ReadingSource Acknowledgments

"[Dawnland Voices] puts another nail in the coffin of the persistent fantasy that "real" Indians and their traditions have vanished east of the Mississippi."-Joy Porter, Times Literary Supplement "[Dawnland Voices is] a significant contribution to Native American and indigenous studies and to US literature."-S. K. Bernardin, Choice "This is an impressive collection, useful to anyone interested in literature and history, and especially useful for educators who teach anything in regard to New England."-Sharity Bessett, SAIL "Anyone with any interest in American Indian literature or indigenous literature of any kind will treasure this innovative book. Siobhan Senier and her learned contributors show us a New England and an America that have been here all along without most Americans suspecting it."—Robert Dale Parker, author of The Invention of Native American Literature  "Dawnland Voices is a collection of writing that is as bright as the morning sun. It's an amazingly comprehensive collection of the literary work of dozens of indigenous authors from an often overlooked part of Native America, the long-embattled Northeast. . . . The reading public needs to be awakened to the continued existence and the cultural heritage of our peoples, as well as the literary excellence of our many authors. No book that I know of does a better job of that than this brilliantly edited anthology."—Joseph Bruchac, author of Our Stories Remember