Dear Friend of MCV,

As we take time this week to pause, reflect, and gather strength for the work ahead, we offer our gratitude to you for being part of the movement for climate action and environmental protection in Maine. Thank you for being part of our community – it’s in the connections we have with you, our members, partners and supporters, as well as with the natural world, that we find the inspiration to keep moving forward together.

In the spirit of gratitude and community – today and everyday – we are reminded of how essential it is that we stand in solidarity with the Wabanaki Nations, whose traditional homelands we now inhabit.

Our friends and neighbors – the sovereign people of the Mi’kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Nation, as well as the Abenaki and other Indigenous peoples – have lived here for millennia and are still here.

Thanksgiving can be a time of joy, but it also serves as a reminder of the painful history that accompanies this holiday and the ongoing reality of colonization. This includes the legacy of displacement, loss, and trauma endured by generations of Indigenous communities.

In the face of an incoming federal administration likely to be hostile to tribal issues across the country [[link removed]] , we are committed to continued advocacy in the next legislative session for policies that advance Wabanaki sovereignty and support their efforts to address historic injustices.

Please join us in considering the positive actions you can take to support Wabanaki rights to self-determination.

Here are two things you can do today:
1. Donate to the Wabanaki Alliance [[link removed]] : The Wabanaki Alliance was formed by the tribes in Maine to advocate for policies that improve the lives of tribal citizens and their neighbors around the state. The Wabanaki Alliance has been the leading organization in the effort to recognize the inherent sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations at the state and federal levels. Learn more about that effort here. [[link removed]]

2. Donate to Wabanaki Reach [[link removed]] : Wabanaki Reach does incredible work elevating Wabanaki voices and taking action for Wabanaki self-determination. Take a look at this beautiful poem, “ Thanksgiving Revisited [[link removed]] ,” by Passamaquoddy and Scotch poet Crow Suncloud.

Thank you for being part of our community – your dedication and advocacy are what drive meaningful change!

With gratitude from all of us here at MCV,

Cathy, Chloe, Kathleen, Lucy, Maggie, Maureen, Meghan, Nick Francis, Nick Janzen, Peter, Rani, and Stacie

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© 2024 Maine Conservation Voters
Maine Conservation Voters
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Augusta, ME 04330
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