News
Maine Institutions Dissect the American Semiquincentennial
Maine museums confront the current zeitgeist of revisionist American history. Read the article in the Boston art review by Jorge S. Arango here including a discussion on the “In the Shadow of the Eagle” at the Abbe Museum.
FAREWELL TO A MAINE PIONEER
“The greatest way we can honor his life is not only to remember what he accomplished, but to continue the work he began.” Maine will not change on its own. We need more people like Jerry to change it.”
-Remarks given by Donna at the memorial service for Gerald Talbot. A video of the service can be viewed here.
CONGRATULATIONS JUDGE JOSEPH G. E. GOUSSE
On Friday afternoon May 15th 2026 Chief Judge Eric Mehnert of the Penobcot Nation Tribal Court gave the Oath of Judicial Office to Joseph Gousse. Judge Gousse will be the new Penobscot Nation Appellate Court Judge. He is with Berman and Simmons Trial Attorneys located in Lewiston Maine.
He is Co-Author of “One Nation Under Fraud: A REMONSTRANCE.” Present at his swearing in ceremony was his wife Amanda, his parents Jean and Marc Gousse.
Judge Gousse is a graduate of the University of New England and the University of Maine School of Law. While in law school, Joe served as the Head Case Note & Comment Editor of the Maine Law Review, was a Teaching Assistant for the Legal Writing Program, and was presented with the Wernick Prize for Legal Writing—awarded each year to a graduating student in recognition of outstanding legal scholarship. He has also spent time as a Legislative Researcher for the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and remains active in the realm of academic legal research and writing concerning matters of tribal sovereignty in Maine (a matter of great personal interest and importance to him). In addition to his practice, Joe has served as a professor in Maine’s Community College System where he taught Business Law and Legal Research and Writing.
Graduation Ceremony at University of Maine at Machias 2026
Left: Donna and Dean Walsh. Right: Donna with Passamaquoddy Chief William Nicholas from Indian Township..
I attended the UMM Graduation Ceremony this past Sunday May 10th. I was asked to give a brief message of Congratualtions from the University of Maine System Board of Trustees.
It was a smaller Graduation Ceremony than UMO or UMS but it was vey well attended and the speakers were highly Community oriented. I was also given the privilege of assisting Provost Dr. Gabriel Paquette.
The hooding was for Washington County Community College President Susan Mingo who received an Honorary Degree.
I was happy to see Paige Sockabasin, Passamaquoddy Tribal Member who graduated MAGNA CUM LAUDE. CONGRATULATIONS PAIGE!!
Chief William Nicholas from Indian Township was in the audience and I caught up with him after the Ceremony. Page is his niece.
Photo of Provost Gabriel Paquette, Dean Megan Walsh, Donna, Rep. Tiffany Strout, Rep. Matthew McIntyre.
Photo of WCCC President Susan Mingo, Donna, President Ferrini-Mundy, UMaine Machias Dean and Campus Director Megan Walsh, UMaine Machias Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs BJ Marshall, and Provost Gabe Paquette.
Read my comments here.
“Resisting Erasure: The Penobscot Remonstrance and the Fight for Sovereignty,” Chebacco. The Journal of the Mount Desert Island Historical Society, Volume XXVII, 2026
At the Smithsonian, New York
This video was taken at the Smithsonian in NYC by Melissa Malmstedt University of Maine. She came across a Native Veterans Display and noticed my name and photo along with other Vietnam Veterans.
Also included in the online exhibition Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces found here with an online gallery here.
Tracy Matsue Loeffelholz, “What Japanese Internment Taught Us About Standing Up for Our Neighbors,” yes!: Solutions Journalism, June 12, 2017. Background source for new writing We Were Never Promised Inclusion: The Growing Danger for Native Citizenship and Sovereignty in America.