The Aroostook Indian facts for kids
The Aroostook Indian was a special newsletter. It was printed from 1969 to 1976 at Ricker College in Houlton, Maine. The Association of Aroostook Indians (AAI) created it. Their goal was to bring together the Maliseet and Micmac people. These Native American groups lived both on and off reservations in northern Maine. The newsletter helped share important news across Aroostook County. It showed how hard the AAI worked to unite the Maliseet and Micmac tribes. People from the community, even from far away like Boston, sent in stories, announcements, recipes, and poems.
How The Aroostook Indian Started
The newsletter was put together by leaders from the AAI. They started working together when the Maliseet and Micmac Tribes were trying to get official recognition from the United States government. This is called federal recognition.
During that time, many Native American people in northern Maine faced serious challenges. They often lived in poverty. Terrance Polchies and Tom Battiste were important leaders of the AAI. They were said to be the first two Native American people from that area to finish high school.
In the very first issue of The Aroostook Indian, Terrance Polchies asked all "Indians in Aroostook to unite and work together." He believed that "as a group we will be stronger and more easily heard." The newsletter helped these two tribes join forces. They worked together to gain the respect and official tribal status they wanted.
However, the Maliseet tribe received federal recognition earlier, in 1980. This happened under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. The Micmacs received their federal recognition later, in 1991. This was through the Aroostook Band of Micmacs Settlement Act. Because they were recognized at different times, the Maliseet and Micmac tribes, who were once united, became divided.
What Was Inside the Newsletter?
The writers of The Aroostook Indian showed their pride in their culture. They wanted to help their tribal traditions grow and spread. They also wrote about serious topics. These included the rights of Native American people. They also discussed the language and history of their tribes.
Education was a very important topic in the newsletter. They talked about building schools for children. This was a big part of improving life on the reservations. They also discussed teaching the tribal language and cultural history. These parts of their heritage were becoming less known, even among people within the tribes.
The newsletter also talked about issues like welfare and unemployment. It addressed discrimination that Native American people faced. It was also a way for the Aroostook County tribes to share news. They announced meetings, events, births, and even happy birthdays.
