FIRST LIGHT: INSIDE MAINE’S HISTORIC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

For centuries, the United States government has taken Native American children away from their tribes, devastating parents and denying children their traditions, culture, and identity. First Light documents these practices from the 1800s to today, and tells the story of an unprecedented experiment in truth-telling and healing for Wabanaki people and child welfare workers in Maine. In 2015 the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that Native people in Maine continue to be targets of “cultural genocide.”

After the short film screening join in conversation about the making of the film and the work of the TRC and Maine-Wabanaki REACH with First Light Director/Producer Adam Mazo, Maine-Wabanaki REACH Co-Director Penthea Burns, and Upstander Project Learning Director Dr. Mishy Lesser.