The Norridgewock Memory Walk
Saturday, August 17, 2024
To commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Norridgewock massacre, Wabanaki REACH hosts a walk and program at the Historic Pines sacred site, in collaboration with Wabanaki partners.
This August marks the 300th year since the brutal massacre of hundreds of Wabanaki / Abenaki women, children, and elders committed by a raiding party from York. The few survivors fled to Canada or sought refuge with the Penobscot Nation.
Following what came to be known as the Norridgewock Massacre, the land was eventually taken into possession by Madison Paper Industries and has since passed through several hands. Today, the Historic Pines site is owned by the town of Madison and stewarded by an elected official of the town.
Several stone monuments are scattered along the 0.8-mile riverside walk. These historical markers tell a story, one that uplifts Father Rasle, the French Catholic missionary, while downplaying the decimation of the heartbeat of the Abenaki community: its women, children, and elders.
During the self-guided walk, you will be given prompts inviting you to think critically about historical narratives, monuments, and collective memory. At the end of the trail, we will engage in a collective exercise, offering participants an opportunity to place themselves in the story of this place and in that of the territory we now call Maine.
This event will take place rain or shine. Please prepare to fend off insects and variable weather conditions. Watering stations will be available throughout the walk but, given the sacred nature of the site, no food will be provided. Please leave your pets at home. We also ask you to refrain from taking any photos during your experience at the Historic Pines.
Wabanaki REACH supports the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices in Wabanaki and Maine communities. REACH designs structures and processes to be responsive to Wabanaki communities and beneficial to Wabanaki people, envisioning a future when Maine and Wabanaki people join together to acknowledge truth and work collectively toward equity, healing, and positive change. We seek to build a broader and stronger community of people who understand the long term impact of the generational harms done to Indigenous people since first contact and who are committed to transforming the present day systems that provide advantages to the dominant culture.