Penobscot Nation Museum

03/17/2026

This Women’s History Month, we are honoring the incredible women elders who have guided, protected, taught, and strengthened our tribal communities.

Today we celebrate Carol Dana, a Penobscot elder from Indian Island whose life’s work reflects deep cultural knowledge, resilience, and love for her community.

Do you know a female elder who deserves to be honored? Nominate her to be featured in our community spotlight. Help us celebrate the women who carry our language, our traditions, and our love forward.

Submit your nomination here: https://forms.office.com/r/ZRppPbjgVe
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS MARCH 27, 2026.

01/21/2026

12/12/2025

It’s almost 10:00 am in Bayeux, the cathedral bells are ringing for Charles…

11/28/2025

Paula Love Thorne, a member of the Penobscot Nation, made this corn basket of ash and sweetgrass. Thorne hails from a long line of basketmakers. Her mentor was renowned Penobscot weaver, Christine Nicholas.

Baskets made in the forms of vegetables and fruits are common in Wabanaki culture. Wabanaki people, usually women, grew varieties of corn, beans, and squash in what are called Three Sisters planting mounds. Wabanaki diets also relied on foods like acorns and butternuts—trees that were decimated by European harvesting for timber and masts. The corn form could reflect tribal histories relating to the First Mother, who sacrificed her life to provide corn and food for the people.

This basket was featured in our 2023 exhibition 'Code Red: Climate, Justice & Natural History Collections' which is available to view online at the link in the comments.

Paula Thorne corn basket, Indian Island, ca. 1999. Collections of Maine Historical Society, MaineMemory.Net #108746.

08/21/2025

01/29/2025

Tribal Government Statement on President Trump’s Executive Orders January 29, 2025 Dear citizens and employees, There has been much news and speculation about the recent Executive Orders issued by President Trump and their potential impacts on Tribal Nations. We are working closely with our lawyer...

01/29/2025

12/13/2024

This weekend....

12/02/2024

REMINDER! The 2024 WABANAKI WINTER MARKET, New England's largest holiday gathering of Wabanaki artists, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. When: Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Where: At the Collins Center for the Arts & Hudson Museum - The University of Maine in Orono, Maine.