About the Performance
The land and waters known as Maine have been home to Wabanaki People for over 12,000 years. This vibrant production of Wabanaki stories and music spotlights Wabanaki artists coming from several different nations and traditions.
Collaborating Storytellers
Tania Morey (Maliseet/Mi’kmaq) My name is Tania Maria Morey. My grandparents were Donald and Mary Sanipass from The Aroostook Band of Micmacs. Grammy was from Eskasoni, Novia Scotia, and Grampy from Elsipogtog, New Brunswick. I first learned to make a basket with my Grandmother at age 7. My dads parents were Simon Morey from Neqotkuk First Nation, and Irene Morey. I learned that grampy used to sing in a band in Perth Andover, NB. My parents were John and Marline Morey. I grew up traveling with my maternal grandparents going to basket shows, blueberry raking, and helping to teach others how to make ash baskets. Creator blessed me with 5 beautiful daughters, Tiana, Mimiques, Gesigewie Tebgunset, Mishun, and Zi’gwan. My children are my light, and my greatrst gifts here on on Mother Earth. I have passed down the art of weaving to my girls, and they carry the gift of song with them. I am now a Migajoo, Grandmother to Walquann, who is our newest little song bird. My earliest memory of singing I remember I was walking in the woods of Chapman, Maine. I could hear a rustling sound coming from the trees. I looked up, and asked them if they wanted me to sing to them; their leaves rustled in agreement. As I sang to them their leaves swayed to and fro. When Mother Earth is my audience, that is when I trully feel Life flowing through me. This is where the wind answers as I pray through frequency. I am thankful for each day that I am blessed to be a part of this beautiful journey.
Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq) is a member of the Mi’kmaq Nation (formerly the Aroostook Band of Micmac). She is a professional storyteller, artist, and historian as well as owner of a nationally renowned tour company, Bar Harbor Ghost Tours. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, and A Masters Degree in American and New England Studies. Jennifer describes her art style as a mix of traditional Mi’kmaq forms with an Art Deco flair. Her original bead designs involve intricate traditional double curves and floral patterns beaded into exquisite limited edition handbags and wall art. Currently Jennifer is also studying and is a founding member of a group reviving traditional Mi’kmaq porcupine quill embroidery.
Dwayne Tomah (Passamaquoddy) is a teacher of the Passamaquoddy language and culture. He is the youngest fluent speaker of the Passamaquoddy tribe today. He has worked on language and cultural preservation his entire life.
Dwayne has worked with Animal Planet on a segment on winged creatures. He edited the Passamaquoddy dictionary and is a former Tribal Council Member. Dwayne is currently working with Library of Congress on Passamaquoddy Wax cylinders. These recordings are the first recordings in the world. The wax cylinders were recorded by Jessie Walter Fukes, who borrowed the device from the inventor of the wax cylinder machine, Thomas Edison, and recorded the Passamaquoddys in 1890.
Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy) is Co-Founder/Director of Education for Akomawt Educational Initiative, a majority Native-owned educational consultancy based in Connecticut. He was born and raised in Motahkmikuhk (Indian Township, ME) and is a proud citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township. Chris’s education career began immediately after high school as a substitute teacher during his time as an undergraduate at Dartmouth College. He is a longtime member of the Mystic River singers, an internationally acclaimed and award winning intertribal pow wow drum group based out of Connecticut. For over two decades, Chris devoted much of his time to Mystic River travelling all over the US and Canada singing at community pow wows and spending time in those communities learning various Native musics.
Jason Brown aka Firefly (Penobscot) seeks to illuminate the beauty and healing power of his ancient indigenous culture through music, visuals and creativity. As a member of the Penobscot Nation, Firefly is helping to place Indigenous people in a modern context. Firefly believes that through creative frequencies, we can begin to heal humanity and evolve to new levels of love, compassion and wellness.
Ashton Altvater AKA Undeniable the Native (Passamaquoddy) Undeniable the Native is a 31 Year old Passamaquoddy Hip Hop Artist from the Sipayik reservation. He performed at the 2023 Wabanaki Stories performance in Portland, and has worked with artists such as the Real Swagg and is known for tracks like “Letter To God” and “I Do this 4 You” which are all available on YouTube.
Commissioning History of Wabanaki Stories
In response to the widespread shutdown of arts spaces in 2020, Portland Ovations invested in Maine’s creative communities by commissioning five original works in music, dance and theater. This ambitious multi-year project sought to amplify Maine’s BIPOC, immigrant and LGBTQ voices and perspectives.
Ovations invested $25,000 in commissioning fees and a total of more than $38,000 in this program, in addition to human resources/technical support. Ovations’ Catalyst Fund supported the commissioning fees and is a revolutionary and visionary artistic initiative in support of projects rooted in the creation of content original to Portland and Maine. The project was also awarded an Enterprise Marketing Grant from the Maine Office of Tourism to extend the visibility of these Maine artists and their work beyond the state’s borders as unique and critical components of Maine’s vibrant culture.
Commissioning Timeline
- 2019: Portland Public Schools requests programming to meet needs of LD 291, requiring all Maine schools to teach Wabanaki studies.
- Summer, 2020: Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy) and Aimée M. Petrin meet virtually, brainstorming early framework for Wabanaki Stories.
- November, 2020: Wabanaki Stories announced publicly through virtual press conference alongside Ovation’ other commissioning projects.
- January, 2021: Virtual project introduction
- February, 2023: Wabanaki Stories premiers to three sold-out audiences in Portland, on the coldest weekend of the year. Premier cast includes Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy), Jennifer Pictou (Mi’kmaq); Dwayne Tomah (Passamaquoddy), Tania Morey (Maliseet, Mi’kmaq) and Jason aka Firefly the Hybrid Brown (Penobscot).
- November, 2023: Encore School-Time Performance presentations of Wabanaki Stories in Portland.
- May, 2025: Wabanaki Stories tours to Bangor’s Gracie Theater for free performances for the public and schools serving Wabanaki students.
- September, 2025: Wabanaki Stories tours to the Waterville Opera House to perform for local schools.
Press
Portland Press Herald, 1-27-2023. ‘Wabanaki Stories’ brings music, storytelling of Maine’s Indigenous people to stage