Books for Background and Content
Unsettled Past, Unsettled Future:
The Story of Maine Indians
Neil Rolde, 2004
Neil Rolde puts the controversies over casinos, racinos, land claims settlements, and sovereign rights for Native Americans in Maine in context by telling the larger story of Maine Indians. Up-to-date, clearly written and an easy read, this is a great reference for 6-12 teachers.
Women of the Dawn
Bunny McBride, 1999
This book tells the stories of four remarkable Wabanaki women whose lives spanned four centuries of history in the Northeast. Their courageous responses to tragedies brought on by European contact make up the heart of the book. The Abbe's exhibition, Four Mollys: Women of the Dawn, was based on this book.
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving
Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac
with Plimoth Plantation
Another great book that focuses on the Wampanoag people of Massachusetts. It provides information on the history and events behind the myth of the "First Thanksgiving." This book provides some good background information on culturally appropriate ways to talk about Native American history and culture. It includes beautiful color photographs.
Elitekey
Ruth Whitehead, 1980
This book discusses Micmac material culture from 1600 to present.
The Micmac: How Their Ancestors Lived
Five Hundred Years Ago
Ruth Whitehead, 1983
This book has excellent content, handsome illustrations and is kid-friendly.
The First Peoples of the Northeast
Esther & David Braun, 1994
The Algonquians of the East Coast
Time Life Books, 1995
The text of this handsome book is brought to life with wonderful illustrations and colorful photographs.
Six Micmac Stories
Retold by Ruth Holmes Whitehead, 1992
Twelve Thousand Years:
American Indians in Maine
Bruce J. Bourque, 2001
Giving Thanks: the 1621 Harvest Feast
Kate Waters in cooperation with Plimoth Plantation, 2001
This book tells a story of the harvest feast in 1621, which had come to be know as the first Thanksgiving. The story is told through the perspective of Dancing Moccasins, a 14 year-old Wampanoag boy, and Resolved White, a 6 year-old English boy. Beautiful color illustrations.
Passamaquoddy at the Turn of the Century 1890-1920: Tribal Life and Times in Maine and New Brunswick
Donald Soctomah, 2002
Please see description, below.
Hard Times at Passamaquoddy 1921-1950:
Tribal Life and Times in Maine and New Brunswick
Donald Soctomah, 2003
Both of these books are written by Donald Soctomah, a Passamaquoddy historian, former Passamaquoddy Representative to the State Legislature and current Passamaquoddy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Compiled from Indian Agents Reports, newspapers, Smithsonian Field Reports and other sources, these books assemble primary source material on Passamaquoddy history by year. Neither book is indexed, however.
(207) 288-3519 or info@abbemuseum.org
Visit us at two locations:
26 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, Maine • Abbe at Sieur de Mont, Acadia National Park
