HOULTON, Maine – Tribal buildings at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, as well as local law enforcement departments, are now aglow with purple in honor of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, the Maliseet Advocacy Center placed Trees adorned with purple lights in front of the Houlton Police Department and Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the HBMI administrative building, Housing Authority, Elders Center and Maliseet Health and Wellness Center.
Also on Wednesday, the Maliseet Advocacy Center held a tree-lighting ceremony to kick off the month-long celebration. Approximately 16 people attended the ceremony, which featured drumming by the women’s drum group, The Four Winds.
Tribal Elder Danya Boyce offered an opening prayer to start the evening.
“Creator, help us pray and strive for the end of domestic violence in our tribe and all communities,” Boyce said. “We realize this is a daunting effort to accomplish, but with the staff and our community members we can try our best, with your spiritual guidance, to keep up the good fight. We have survived, fought and struggled to get where we are today. Guide and teach us to treat one another with love, respect, honor and dignity.”
Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis asked those in attendance to honor those individuals who are impacted by domestic violence.
“We all have relationships with one another and no one individual is more important than another,” she said. “It is our job to protect our relationships with each other and the land and to take care of one another.”
Cathy St. John, Maliseet Advocacy Center program director, welcomed those in attendance and urged people to show compassion for the victims of domestic violence, both in our community and across the nation.
“Tonight we gather around this tree, decorated with purple lights, to symbolize our support of survivors, remembrance of those who have lost their lives to domestic violence, and unity in the mission to end domestic violence in this Maliseet community,” St. John said. “We light this tree to shine throughout October as a visible symbol of our unity in ending domestic violence.”
Wednesday’s ceremony was held simultaneously with tribal sister sites at the Mi’kmaq Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center, Indian Township Advocacy Center, Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations in Sipayik, and Penobscot Nation Advocacy Center.
“We gather in unity with our Wabanaki relatives to acknowledge that many of our people are living lives impacted by domestic violence,” St. John said. “Many of us grew up in homes or witnessed domestic violence. In the not-so-distant past, there were no Tribal Domestic and Sexual Violence Programs that each of our Wabanaki communities now has. Survivors had to endure the fear and trauma of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.”
Other events planned for the month of October to raise awareness include the 28th annual Candlelight Vigil, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. at the Maliseet Community Center (568 Foxcroft Road); a Mosaic Making DV Awareness activity, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5-8 p.m. at the Community Center (pre-registration is required as space is limited — adults only); and a DV Awareness one mile run/walk, Friday, Oct. 17, at 10:30 a.m.
“Let us demand that every victim and child is safe to walk the streets day or night in any community,” St. John said. “Safe to go home and not fear what lies behind the front door. Safe to make their own choices and not fear the words or fists of the person who is meant to protect them. Let us tonight pledge to model healthy relationships, pledge to speak out against abusive behavior, pledge to call the police if we witness abuse, and pledge to support the victim and hold the perpetrators of violence accountable for their actions.”
Following the tree lighting, a reception was held at the Maliseet Advocacy Center featuring light refreshments.
