Donald Soctomah facts for kids

Donald Soctomah, born in 1955, is an important Native American leader. He is an author, filmmaker, historian, and politician. He works for the Passamaquoddy tribe as their tribal historic preservation officer. This means he helps protect important cultural places, old items, and traditional knowledge. He works with both the U.S. and Canadian governments to do this.

Soctomah has written many books about the history of the Passamaquoddy people. He also wrote a children's book called Remember Me: Tomah Joseph's Gift to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and another one called The Canoe Maker. Many people know him as a very recognized member of the Passamaquoddy tribe. He was even on a TV show called Colonial House in 2004, which was filmed on Passamaquoddy land. He has also been in several films about his tribe's history and legends for TV channels like PBS and Animal Planet.

Donald Soctomah's Education

Donald Soctomah studied Forest Management at the University of Maine. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1984. Later, in 1998, he continued his studies in forestry at Michigan Tech/Suny College. In 2006, the University of Maine at Machias honored him with a special doctorate degree in Humanities.

Soctomah's Political Work

Donald Soctomah served for eight years as a representative for the Passamaquoddy Tribe. He worked in the Maine House of Representatives, which is like a state government meeting place. During his time there, he helped pass important laws.

• He worked to protect Native American burial sites.
• He also helped protect ancient Native American archaeological sites.
• He made sure that all schools in Maine (from kindergarten to 12th grade) must teach about Wabanaki history.
• He successfully changed offensive place names on maps in Maine. For example, in 2000, he helped change the names of more than 25 places called "Squaw Mountain."

Protecting Tribal History

As the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Donald Soctomah is often asked for advice. He helps with many history and education projects in Maine and for the federal government. These projects include films, CDs, and books.

He has worked on a special project to list all the traditional Passamaquoddy place names in Maine. He has also been very involved in helping to keep the Passamaquoddy language alive.

Soctomah also manages the Passamaquoddy tribal museum. He helped create a big exhibit called "People of the Dawn" at the Downeast Heritage Center in Calais, Maine. This exhibit shows copies of ancient rock carvings, some over 3,000 years old. One carving even shows a 17th-century sailing ship, possibly from explorer Samuel de Champlain. Soctomah also added a very old wampum belt to the exhibit.

Awards and Honors

Donald Soctomah has received several important awards for his work.

• On March 30, 2015, the Maine Humanities Council gave him their highest award, the Constance H. Carlson Prize. This award recognized his great contributions to public humanities in Maine.
• In Washington D.C., at a big meeting for Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums, he received the 2015 Guardian of Culture and Lifeways Award. This international award honors people who protect native cultures.
• He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates Donald's work that has greatly helped preserve and understand the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples.