I have always considered myself fortunate to have been born and raised in Maine. It is truly a special place. As the northernmost state in New England, and the largest, Maine is known for breathtaking scenery: Its dramatic, rocky coastline, its many rolling hills and mountains, and its heavily forested interior.
I grew up along the Penobscot River, close enough to its terminus, Penobscot Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, to watch it ebb and flow with steady and strong currents. As a boy, I learned early of the Penobscot's great importance to the history and industry of Maine: Log driving, ship building and ice harvesting are a few examples that built many fortunes. And as the largest river in Maine, the Penobscot provided a means of transportation that promoted settlements and growth.
But long before the cities and industrialization, and long before the european settlers, there were the indigenous people of the Penobscot watershed. They sustained themselves for millennia by hunting and fishing the watershed region — They are the Penobscot Indian Nation. Archaeological evidence indicates fishing by native inhabitants as early as 8,000 years ago. Many native place-names along the watershed refer to areas where migratory fish were especially plentiful. These vast native sea-run fisheries defined cultural practices and rich traditions for the inhabitants of the region.
Most of the Penobscot River valley and associated watershed are still wild and heavily forested, but unfortunately, portions of the Penobscot have not been spared the fate of so many New England rivers. Population growth, waste from cities, farms and factories, and the placement of hydroelectric damns have impacted the watershed tremendously. Currently, an extraordinary landmark effort is underway —The Penobscot River Restoration Project. It is designed to revive the Penobscot's native fisheries, which undoubtedly will give rise to the return of many social, cultural and economic traditions that have long since disappeared.
To learn more of the restoration project and gain additional perspective on its future positive impact, watch this thought provoking and insightful interview with Penobscot Nation tribal elder, Butch Phillips: Restoring the Penobscot River.
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The Penobscot River Watershed, © 2011 Medicus Media |
