For Penobscot Nation’s Director of Natural Resources Chuck Loring and his daughter River, Wáhsehtəkʷ—meaning East Branch of the Penobscot River—is a place to canoe, fish, and connect with their culture. The Penobscot view the river not only as a valued community member, but as a relative. This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor that connection—and celebrate our partnership with the nation to return nearly 30,000 acres of Wáhsehtəkʷ, protecting this vital landscape for generations to come. | Trust

From @mainepublic - Donna Loring, Penobscot Nation elder, poet, and author, introduces In the Shadow of the Eagle, an Abbe Museum exhibit inspired by her book and poem. Through Wabanaki language, art, and storytelling, the exhibit shares history and culture from the perspective of the Wabanaki people. This exhibit runs through October 2026 at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor. This video is part of the Assignment Maine: America @ 250 series. . . . Video by @rebecca_boco | Abbe Museum

For the last 20 years, we have worked with partners to restore endangered Atlantic salmon to Maine’s Penobscot River. The Penobscot River watershed supports the last remaining wild Atlantic salmon in the United States. So far, restoration efforts have resulted in the removal of 17 dams and dozens of other barriers in the watershed. In 2020, more than 1,400 fish returned to spawn on Penobscot. This year, the Maine Department of Marine Resources counted 1,520 Atlantic salmon—the highest number rep