Donna M. Loring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donna M. Loring
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Donna M. Loring speaking at Maine Women in Media, Lincolnville, Maine, April 28, 2012.
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| Born | October 1, 1948 Indian Island, Maine |
| Occupation | Author, broadcaster, and tribal representative of the Penobscot nation in the American state of Maine |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Maine |
| Alma mater | Maine Criminal Justice Academy |
| Notable works | In the Shadow of the Eagle, The Glooskape Chronicles: Creation and the Venetian Basket |
| Notable awards | Mary Ann Hartman Award |
| Spouse | Deborah Bouchard |
Donna M. Loring is a Penobscot author and broadcaster. She also served as a Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Janet Mills, the governor of Maine.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Donna Loring grew up on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation in Maine. Her grandmother raised her there. She earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Maine.
After graduating from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Loring made history. In 1984, she became the first female police chief for the Penobscot nation. Later, from 1992 to 1997, she was the first female director of security at Bowdoin College.
During the Vietnam War, Loring served in the military. She worked at a communications center in Vietnam. Her job was to process important reports from Southeast Asia. Former Maine Governor Angus King honored her with the rank of honorary Colonel. He also appointed her as an advisor on women veteran's affairs. In 1999, she received the Mary Ann Hartman Award. This award recognizes women in Maine for their achievements in arts, politics, business, education, and community service.
Political Work
Maine has a special tradition where tribal representatives can join the state legislature. They do not vote, but they share their tribe's views. This tradition dates back to the 1800s. Donna Loring served several terms for the Penobscot people.
Important Laws and Changes
In 2000, Loring supported a bill to remove the word "squaw" from public place names. This word was offensive to Native Americans.
One of her biggest achievements was writing and supporting a law called LD 291. This law requires schools in Maine to teach about Maine Native American history and culture. It became law in 2001.
State of the Tribes Address
Loring also created the first "State of the Tribes Address" in Maine's history. This event took place in March 2002. Tribal chiefs attended, and it was broadcast live on television and radio. This helped more people learn about tribal issues.
Supporting Indigenous Rights
In 2008, Loring presented a resolution to the legislature. It was called "Joint Resolution in the Support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." This resolution passed unanimously. Maine became the only state at that time to support this important UN declaration.
Loring was also a member of the Penobscot tribal council.
Writing and Broadcasting
Donna Loring hosts a monthly radio show called "Wabanaki Windows." It airs on WERU radio in Blue Hill, Maine.
She has written a lot about government policies and Maine Indian history. More recently, she has focused on creative writing. In 2008, she published a memoir called In the Shadow of the Eagle. A memoir is a book about a person's own experiences. Her book was about her years in the Maine Legislature.
Loring also wrote a musical play. It is called "The Glooskape Chronicles: Creation and the Venetian Basket." This play received national attention.
