Dawnland Voices calls attention to the little-known but extraordinarily rich literary traditions of New England’s Native Americans. This pathbreaking anthology includes both classic and contemporary literary works from ten New England indigenous nations: the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Mohegan, Narragansett, Nipmuc, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Schaghticoke, and Wampanoag. Through literary collaboration and recovery, Siobhan Senier and Native tribal historians and scholars have crafted a unique volume covering a variety of genres and historical periods. From the earliest petroglyphs and petitions to contemporary stories and hip-hop poetry, this volume highlights the diversity and strength of New England Native literary traditions. Dawnland Voices introduces readers to the compelling and unique literary heritage in New England, banishing the misconception that “real” Indians and their traditions vanished from that region centuries ago.

Four Wabanaki women from four centuries of tribal history recall the long, tragic history of initial European contact and subsequent disease, warfare, and displacement.

The story of Maine's Native people, with many generous voices sharing their stories, hopes, and fears.

"Billy J. Stratton's critical examination of Mary Rowlandson's 1682 publication, The Soveraignty and Goodness of God, reconsiders the role of the captivity narrative in American literary history and national identity. With pivotal new research into Puritan minister Increase Mather's influence on the narrative, Stratton calls for a reconsideration of past scholarly work on the genre"--Provided by publisher.

A “profound and inspiring” collection of ancient indigenous wisdom for “anyone wanting the healing of self, society, and of our shared planet” (Peter Levine, author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma). A Penobscot Indian draws on the experiences and wisdom of the First Nations to address environmental justice, water protection, generational trauma, and more. Drawing from ancestral knowledge, as well as her experience as an attorney and activist, Sherri Mitchell addresses some of the most crucial issues of our day—including indigenous land rights, environmental justice, and our collective human survival. Sharing the gifts she has received from the elders of her tribe, the Penobscot Nation, she asks us to look deeply into the illusions we have labeled as truth and which separate us from our higher mind and from one another. Sacred Instructions explains how our traditional stories set the framework for our belief systems and urges us to decolonize our language and our stories. It reveals how the removal of women from our stories has impacted our thinking and disrupted the natural balance within our communities. For all those who seek to create change, this book lays out an ancient world view and set of cultural values that provide a way of life that is balanced and humane, that can heal Mother Earth, and that will preserve our communities for future generations.

Historian, visual artist and poet rolled into one, Mihku Paul tells lively stories of Maliseet heroes throughout the millennia; vividly maps a territory encompassing old canoe routes and aunties' work tables; and sings in every register from the mythic to the modern. This beautiful chapbook lights up the Native presence that has always permeated Maine and the Maritimes. Paul joins the ranks of other important Wabanaki poets--Alice Azure, Carol Bachofner, Joseph Bruchac, Carol Dana, and Cheryl Savageau--dedicated to preserving and updating their literary traditions. - Siobhan Senier, University of New Hampshire

This is a reprint of Henry Lorne Masta's important work on the Abenaki language, first published in 1932. Abenaki is a member of the Algonquian family and is spoken in Quebec and neighbouring US states. There are few native speakers, but there is considerable interest in keeping the language alive.