Dwayne Tomah: Passamaquoddy Stories

Some of the stories that have helped preserve Passamaquoddy culture and beliefs through the generations will be brought to life at the latest event in an Eastport festival celebrating Maine’s storytelling traditions. Passamaquoddy Language Keeper Dwayne Tomah will share tales as part of Eastport Arts Center’s Stories We Tell Festival, presented in partnership with Sipayik Museum and The Quoddy Tides. The free event will be held Saturday, August 17, at 7 pm.

Traditional stories of the Little People as well as more recent stories detailing historic events will be included, noted Tomah. For hundreds of years, First Nations people have relied on stories to weave together their community. According to some of the traditional tales, the magical Little People live alongside the Passamaquoddy as both protectors and spiritual beings. “They look out for our people,” Tomah said.

“The function of all these stories was teaching about our surroundings, our connection to one another, to the Earth, our relationship with the Earth,” Tomah said. “Everything is connected by these stories, the language and all the cultural concepts tied into this ancient indigenous knowledge.”

More recent stories concern who exerts control over the hunting and fishing rights of tribal people. Tomah will also relate stories of the U.S. and Canadian residential schools where Native children were taken for many years to be indoctrinated into White culture.

The unsolved murder of a Passamaquoddy tribal member in 1965 in Perry will be the focus of one story and a song. “It’s a story about people getting away with murder like has been happening to First Nations people for years,” he explained.

“Storytelling is very, very important because it’s a way for our ancestors to be heard and for these stories to continue,” Tomah said. “These stories must be told.”

Upcoming events in the festival include a night with internationally recognized storyteller Antonio Rocha, Saturday, September 15 at 7 pm, and a StorySlam of stories told by local residents on Saturday, October 5 at 7 pm. Those interested in telling a story are asked to email eastportstories@gmail.com to sign up.