Tribal Council proclaims October as Domestic Violence Awareness month
Tribal Chief Brenda Commander and Tribal Councilors Michelle Barrows, Tina Beaver, Linda Raymond, Brian Reynolds, Gloria Tomah and Joshua Toner signed a proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at their Council meeting on Oct. 4.
The “Shawl Stories” officially opened at the Blue Moon Gallery last Friday evening and will run throughout October and November. Danya Boyce, Leona Joseph, Rhonda Ireland, Sally Joseph, and Amy Dennis of the Four Winds Drummers performed the opening ceremony. The gallery crowd was particularly moved by their acappella performance of the Maliseet Women’s Chant. The Shawl Stories Project began last year as a way to honor Native American victims and survivors of domestic violence. Each shawl has been created by members of the native community; with each shawl color representing a facet of domestic violence. The Shawl’s are displayed within a simulated sweat lodge. Every detail of the sweat lodge is important in the Maliseet culture. There are birch saplings, cedar boughs, medicine wheel colors, steaming rocks, and a dream catcher. The theme of the Maliseet Domestic Violence Vigil is “Catch the Dream to End Domestic Violence.”
The Maliseet 10th Annual Candlelight Vigil is to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of the Blue Moon Gallery. Everyone is invited and welcomed to attend the candlelight vigil which will feature an opening by Maliseet Tribal Chief, Brenda Commander, Traditional ceremony led by Imelda Perley, drumming by the Maliseet women’s drum group — the Four Winds, candle lighting ceremony, candle walk to the Meduxenkeag River for a ceremonial offering to the river that once sustained the Maliseets; followed by refreshments inside the Blue Moon Gallery.
On Oct. 10 the Maliseet Clinic observed National Healthcares About Domestic Violence Day. All 57 employees of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians could be seen wearing purple T-shirts to work to show in a very visible way their support for ending domestic violence.
Lorraine Edmo, Deputy of Tribal Affairs and Kimberly Woodard, Program Specialist from the Washington DC Office on Violence Against made a Site Visit as well last Wednesday. They got an opportunity to see the dramatic increase in domestic violence awareness in the Maliseet community and workplace and were impressed by the level of support that the tribal government, staff, and community have for the Maliseet Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program.
