LITTLETON, Maine — More than 600 people turned out to participate the celebration of traditional ways and ceremonies of the Maliseet people during the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians’ 46th annual Metaksonekiyak Community Days Saturday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 6.
Formerly known as Recognition Day, the tribe changed the name of its annual gathering in 2024 to place a greater emphasis on the people of its tribe. Metaksonekiyak is Maliseet for “on or along Meduxnekeag River,” which perfectly describes the Maliseets and the importance of water to the tribe.
The two-day event, on the tribal lands located on 88 Bell Road in Littleton, began each day with a pipe ceremony in the morning, followed by dancing, drumming, kids games and a variety of food and craft vendors selling everything from native baskets, quilts, mugs and more.
New this year was an expanded Bingo tent area to accommodate a larger number of participants, all competing to win a large collection of prizes.
Six drum groups kept the sounds of tribal drums echoing throughout the field for much of the two days. An empty chair was placed alongside the Four Winds drum group in honor of Amy Joseph – a longtime member of the group who passed away in January.
Alan St. Jean and Chris Phillips gave a demonstration on pounding a brown ash log to make splints for basket making.
On Saturday evening, an impressive community meal was offered free to the public, including traditional dishes such as salmon, fiddleheads, fry bread and hulled corn soup, along with barbecued foods. Several hundred people gathered in the Community Center for a time of feasting and fellowship.
Weather finally cooperated this year to allow for an impressive 12-minute fireworks display to take place Saturday evening.
Sunday began with a free community breakfast that fed more than 100 people, before a second day of drumming, dancing and bingo games began.
Another new feature to the Community Days celebration was a lacrosse clinic Sunday afternoon featuring Corey Hinton and brothers Jeremy and Jerome Thompson. Jeremy Thompson is a Haudenosaunee professional lacrosse player from the Hawk Clan of the Onondaga Nation. He plays for the Rochester NY Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League and the Atlas of Premier Lacrosse League. He was a two-time Junior College Lacrosse National Champion and was Second team All-American at Syracuse University. Jeremy is also a member of the Haudenosaunee men’s national lacrosse team.
Jerome “Hiana” Thompson, Jr. is a Iroquois former professional box lacrosse player from the Hawk Clan of the Onondaga Nation. He plays for the Albany Firewolves of the National Lacrosse League.
Michael Corey Hinton a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. He was a collegiate player at Colgate and also played on the 2003 Iroquois Nationals U19 team and the 2006 Iroquois Nationals senior squad. Both of those teams competed in World Lacrosse (formerly known as International Lacrosse Federation) championships. Hinton is now an attorney with the law firm Drummond and Woodsum in Portland, and has dedicated his free time to bringing the “Creators Game” back to our Wabanaki Communities.
The tribe’s Community Day committee is already working on new ideas to make next year’s celebration even more spectacular.
