News release also shared by Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
Less than two years after it was launched, more than 1,000 learners have earned the University of Maine System (UMS) Dawnland- Maine Indian History digital badge. A recent news release includes information about the inception and broad reach of the course and corresponding credential. Featured in the article are:
- Former Rep. Donna Loring, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation and University of Maine (UMaine) graduate who now serves on the System’s Board of Trustees
- John Bear Mitchell, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation who serves as a lecturer and outreach and student development coordinator for the Wabanaki Center at UMaine and is also the System’s Native American Waiver and educational program coordinator
- Paul Rasmussen, Assistant Superintendent of RSU 21 (Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport), where nearly 300 staff and students have earned the badge
- Dannel Malloy, University of Maine System Chancellor
To earn the Dawnland badge, learners must demonstrate their knowledge of Indigenous movement and ways of life during the Ice Age and prior to the arrival of European settlers, early interactions with European settlers and current political and cultural issues facing the citizens of the Wabanaki Nations. That content is covered and assessed in four online modules, which can typically be completed in approximately 10 hours total.
Read the full story on the UMS News webpage.
The story was also shared by the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission (MITSC), an independent inter-governmental entity that engages in outreach, networking, and education to support effiective Tribal-State relations. Click here to view the story on the MITSC website (External Link).